Starting off on grass or smooth gravel helps since falls there hurt less. These surfaces make balancing and pedaling harder though. If you plan on practicing balance and pedaling on hills, find locations with gentle slopes. Check your local laws to see if it is legal to ride on sidewalks or other paths.

Avoid baggy pants and long skirts. These may get caught in the gears and tires, and may result in you falling down. Avoid open-toed shoes. These leave your feet exposed to the bike and ground.

Helmets are measured to fit the head. A good one fits tightly and comes down to an inch (two and a half centimeters) above your eyebrows. It will also have straps that keep your helmet tight while still letting you move your mouth. Commuter helmets are one common type. They are rounded, made of foam and plastic, and can be found online or in retail stores where bikes are available. [2] X Research source Road helmets are elongated and often have vents. They’re also made with foam and plastic but are popular on roads or in competitive racing. Seek them online or in retail stores. [3] X Research source Youth (age 10-15), child (age 5-10), and toddler (under 5) helmets are all smaller commuter or road helmets. Toddler helmets are the only ones with more foam. Mountain bike helmets and professional sports helmets come with visors and neck bracing for tough off-road conditions. [4] X Research source

If you have to go out at night, wear light-colored clothing, reflective stickers, and use bike headlights.

Short grass and smooth gravel are also surfaces you can use. Falls will hurt less, but these surfaces force you to pedal harder to move the bike.

It is possible to remove the pedals to keep them out of the way, but it isn’t required.

If your bike has brakes on the handlebars, test each one to see which controls the front and which controls the rear wheel. These can be switched by professionals. [7] X Research source Notice how squeezing the back brake causes the rear wheel to skid. Squeezing the front brake causes the bike to pitch forward. [8] X Research source If your bike doesn’t have brakes on the handles, it should have backpedal (coaster) brakes. To brake, press down on the pedal closest to the back end of the bike as if pedaling backwards. [9] X Research source If your bike is a fixed wheel and hasn’t been modified, it has no brakes. Instead of braking, you will need to either slow the pace of your pedaling or skid by leaning forward and holding both pedals horizontally with your feet. [10] X Research source

Feel the weight of the bike between your legs and try to keep it balanced as you lower yourself. Having feet on the ground prevents the bike from toppling while you acclimate. Maintain your weight in the center of the bike, evenly distributed between your left and right sides. Sit up straight instead of leaning.

Before you have complete control, go where the bike goes. When starting, the bike tends to go to the side or in circles. Instead of stopping, let it go and try to maintain balance while it does. [12] X Research source If you are helping a child or friend, you can hold onto their lower back to help them stay steady while they practice.

Going faster makes balancing easier, but don’t go so fast that you lose control.

Putting your feet down too early while using the brakes stops the bicycle abruptly. Your momentum won’t stop and you’ll whack into the handlebars. [14] X Research source

Keep your weight focused in your feet. Stay pressed against the seat, keep your elbows bent, and your body relaxed. [16] X Research source When you are confident you can coast to the bottom, try riding down with your feet on the pedals.

Once you feel confident, bike halfway up the slope, come to a stop, and start pedaling upwards again.