Our reporter CHRISTINE FLEMING is learning to ride a bike for the very first time at the age of 24. Follow her quest to take to two wheels over the next seven weeks in the Richmond and Twickenham Times

Whenever anyone wants to illustrate how simple something is they always seem to say “It’s as easy as riding a bike” – well for me it’s not.

In fact, I have always hated people uttering this irritating phrase in my direction – and with good reason – because I can’t ride a bike.

Growing up, I was never one of those children who would ride around without a care in the world loving the freedom bicycles offered, I was the one falling off and scraping my knees or just pushing my pretty looking bike along taking it for walks instead of rides.

But now at the grand old age of 24, and working in Richmond, a place full of bikes, it is finally time to get back in the saddle and join the cycling set.

Now it seems that if you want to learn to ride a bike Richmond is the place to do it – there are lots of scenic cycle routes, quiet parks to practise in and most importantly plenty of lessons that you can take to learn.

Although most Richmond residents will have learned how to ride while still at school, the council is keen for youngsters to get into the habit of riding early and trains more than 2,400 children a year – there are also adult lessons available.

Surprisingly there are plenty of adults like me who either cannot ride or want to improve their skills The council’s £4.2m Smarter Travel scheme means they is able to run both one-to-one tuition and a two-week course where older people can learn gain from scratch with a group of other novices.

I was not feeling confident enough to learn in a group so I went for one-to-one tuition. Arriving at my first riding lesson on Tuesday I had a slightly sick feeling and fearing the worst I started imagining myself being sent flying over the handlebars and into a tree, crashing into an expensive car or even worse being abandoned by my frustrated instructor.

Meeting John Everitt, my teacher, whose usual students are of the junior variety, immediately filled me with confidence as I got the impression that should I fall – which he assured me I wouldn’t – he might just help me up again.

We started off the lesson with the basics – being kitted out with all manner of safety gear and being talked through different parts of my bike.

One ‘hi-vis’ yellow vest, secure helmet and intense wareness of bike brakes later we were ready to go.

Starting on grass – as it makes for a softer landing should there be a tumble – John told me to get a feel for the bike by pushing myself off with two feet and gliding along so I could get used to how the momentum helped the bike balance.

Not convinced I tentatively followed instructions and tried to trust my bike not to throw me off.

Gliding was fun, if a little scary, but once I was used to the feel of the bike’s movements it was time for the even harder bit – peddling.

When I heard I had to actually try to co-ordinate myself enough to peddle my fear of cycling returned and my brain frantically ticked over wondering if I could maybe just get a tandem bike instead and pay someone to cycle me around.

As if John knew what I was thinking he started extolling the virtues of cycling and the route to “health, wealth and happiness” it would apparently take me on – very sneaky seeing as everyone wants to get fitter, save money and spend their days smiling.

But peddling a bike when you fear falling off is not an easy feat, you have to get yourself in the right position so when you do set off you don’t lose control, but you also have to knock down the mental barrier that is telling you balancing on a thin framed bike is impossible.

Showing me the peddle-ready position and explaining to me how to use the two brakes – yes there are two – one at the front and one at the back, John got me to face the fear and push off.

One hard push off with my right leg and quick location of my peddle with the left and I was cycling, really cycling.

Having mastered the tricky skill of staying upright on my bike and setting off without being given a push I then had to learn how to steer.

Strangely enough gripping the handlebars as if your life depended on it doesn’t actually help when your riding, all it does is leave you with white knuckles and a tensing up of the arms that leads to a pretty swervy ride.

Relaxing the arms and looking straight ahead, however, do appear to be the key to a relatively straight cycle.

After several rounds of an empty car park, learning how to cycle in a somewhat straight line, turning corners and looking over my shoulder – although I did cheat slightly with this one by glancing not properly looking – I was even deemed good enough to attempt testing out my bike on a quiet residential road and John told me that next week we would be going out to test my signalling abilities.

Weirdly, after my two-hour starter lesson something happened that I never thought would – I actually relaxed a little, stopped panicking about falling and actually enjoyed myself.

It felt nice ambling along on my bike and a bit like when you learn to do something for the first time as a child I felt an immense feeling of achievement – and the best bit of all I came back home scrape-free.

For more information on lessons in the borough visit smartertravelrichmond.org.

Instructor John’s favourite cycling quotes of the week:

“When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race.” - HG Wells

“I thought of that [the theory of relativity] while riding my bicycle.” - Albert Einstein

Getting started

Bike checks:

Brakes: Test them to check they are working.

Tyres: Prod them to make sure they are firm and do not need pumping up.

Wheels: Check they are ok by lifting front wheel – and then back wheel – and spinning them to make sure they are not obstructed in any way.

Handlebars: Wiggle them to make sure they are moving correctly.

Saddle: Check the height is right by sitting on it and making sure you can still touch the ground with your toes.

Name: Try giving your bike a name it may make it like you more.

Richmond Smarter Travel Facts:

-It is a partnership between Transport for London (TfL) and Richmond Council which aims to make Richmond the greenest borough in London by 2012.

-A £4.2 million project over three years, it encourages the use of more sustainable travel options.

-The scheme includes cycle training, cycling facilities such as routes and parking, car club bays, travel plans for workplaces and schools, better information on sustainable transport options for residents and businesses.

-As part of the scheme the council offers a free cycle maintenance workshop once a month – the next is on September 11.

-A rent-a-bike scheme has just been launched at the visitor information stand at Richmond station.