swimming and bike-riding lessons

[georgy.livejournal.com]

1) So I'm finally going to learn how to swim! Has anyone heard anything particularly good/bad about the Somerville YMCA's adult swimming lessons? Or how about the CCAE -- that's my other option, although it's more expensive. Or a private instructor?

2) Secondly, I also need to learn how to ride a bike (don't ask). I am also considering taking the CCAE's course -- that is, if it is included in their fall semester offerings. Failing that, does anyone else know anyone who gives bike riding lessons?

Thanks!

Comments

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

Do you need any help writing in cursive too? :)

(I'm hoping that comes off in the good-natured teasing way I am going for)

and, to be somewhat helpful, I'd suggest just having a friend help you out with the bike thing...it's really just about getting the balance down. I don't see how you could learn anything special in a class.

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

Classes can teach lots of things about road skills, law, safety, etc. If you are going to ride a bike anywhere other than a path around here there is a lot more to learn than balance, and it helps a lot to have other people to help you.

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

Hey, I didn't learn to bike until I was 22 :).

I would see what http://www.massbike.org/ has in terms of classes. I would also be happy to help you out with road skills, once you get to that point, although I am not quite sure how to teach someone from scrach (having not learned until I was 22, and now being a commuter and a long-distance rider, I am pretty darn gung-ho about the wonders of biking and happy to evangelize :).

[georgy.livejournal.com]

Looks like they have classes in Newburyport and Waltham -- both of which are out of my easy transit range :-\ I'm also going to ask around at area bike shops.

Also, do I know you? Your name/profile, etc. look awfully familiar.

Bike class

[virito.livejournal.com]

The classes offered by MassBike are geared for people who already know how to ride a bike and want to learn how to become a commuter/ride safely on the roads. I'm one of the teachers. We want to offer classes in Somerville, but are having trouble getting space (Tufts and schools turned out to be harder to deal with than expected).

To learn how to ride a bike, we suggest that folks try the CCAE class. Susan McLucas is usually the teacher, she's been teaching adults how to ride bikes for over 10 years. She's seen it all and is great at helping you understand how to get your body to move with the bike.

Good for you to be learning!

Re: Bike class

[georgy.livejournal.com]

Thanks! The CCAE doesn't announce its fall sked until Friday, but a friend told me she thinks the bike class won't be on it (b/c of the weather changing?) -- you dont happen to know if they still offer it in the fall, do you? (I'm impatient, what can I say?) Or if Susan gives private lessons?

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

*looks at your profile*
*looks at your web site*
*looks at your resume*

I don't think I know you, no. Can't think of any particular reason why I would.

But I'm still happy to help total strangers with road skills :).

[georgy.livejournal.com]

Haha, OK, I appreciate it :-)

[syntheticnature.livejournal.com]

It's expensive, but I was very happy with the swimming teacher Jurek at Wellbridge in Harvard Square. You can take lessons there without being a member. Oh wait! I just remembered! He does the CCAE classes too. Yeah, go for the CCAE classes.

If I had it to do over again, though, I might go for Total Immersion swim training. It's all about helping you be more relaxed in the water. As a beginner, you're an inefficient swimmer. Working harder tires you out without really making you faster. Instead, they help you learn efficiency. The downside is that they are Even More Expensive - a weekend workshop goes for $450. Yeah, four-fifty. But, people swear by them. There's a workshop coming up in Waltham at the end of July - see http://www.totalimmersion.net .

[georgy.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the info! I think I may take both the YMCA and the CCAE classes, since the Y classes are so inexpensive. Not sure about Total Immersion... very pricey :-O

[syntheticnature.livejournal.com]

That sounds good. The one thing I didn't get from lessons with Jurek was a sense of comfort at a big pool. I don't mean the physical size, more about things like lane-sharing etiquette. Maybe the Y lessons will fill in that gap.

Open-water swimming seems to be much more my thing. Yay, Walden Pond! At least in the summer.

Learn to ride a bike classes with Susan McLucas

[virito.livejournal.com]

I called Susan McLucas and have her permission to post her phone number, 617-776-6524. She'd be glad to teach you (and others) how to ride a bike. She has loaner bicycles to learn on as well, so you don't have to buy a bike until you've gotten the hang of it and know more about what kind you'd like. Enjoy!

Re: Learn to ride a bike classes with Susan McLucas

[georgy.livejournal.com]

Thanks very much!!