I am in my mid-fifties living in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (originally from Siri Lanka). I had never got the opportunity to bicycle growing up in Siri Lanka being a girl. Since I came to Canada in early 2000s, I tried my best to learn to bicycle. It never worked. Even I was discouraged by many saying that I would never bicycle since I didn't do it as a child. Couple of months ago, I happened to Google as a last attempt, how to learn to ride a bicycle as an adult. A video clip by Susan McLucas showed up. There she explained in detail how to ride a bicycle whether you are a kid, adult, or even a senior citizen. I watched it few times. Then found an empty church parking lot and tried step by step how to get it moving every weekend, using my 12-year old son's bicycle (Even I didn't know how to ride a bicycle, I taught my son when he was little by watching a YouTube video!) There were times I felt like abandoning the bicycle and come home. But I kept on watching Susan's video clip and went to practice with a little progress each time every weekend. After a month of labour, one day, all of a sudden, I managed to get the hang of it! My happiness went over the roof. I just patted my shoulder and celebrated my great achievement. I always wanted to minimize as much as possible my part of carbon footprint. So I sold my vehicle and bought a used adult bike. Now I ride everyday 30 minutes to work on my bike. The real motivator of Susan's video was the T-shirt she was wearing with the words "One Less Car". I love the subtle yet strong message. Now I want to start a Bicycle Riding School in Edmonton following Susan's concept. I hope I could do it the same way, I did it with my dream of riding a bicycle one day. read more

Susan is amazing! She is a super sweet, spry 76 year old who taught my kids to ride bikes in under an hour! This is after I have spent hours trying myself without success. What a cool place! read more

I have two boys who weren't interested in riding their bikes. Susan changed that. One boy was riding regularly by the end of the week, the other by the end of the month. My wife and I can't thank her enough! read more

I cannot say enough amazing things about Susan. My 5 year old was very nervous to get rid of his training wheels; rather than trying another bike group like we did last year (Pedal Heads) my friend told me about Susan, her business and what she does. I booked a private lesson with Susan. By the end of the first session she had my son balancing away. I didn't want to lose momentum so asked to return again (she was able to accommodate him the next morning which was really appreciated). Within the first 10 minutes of that class he was pedaling away! There was no stopping him as he practised and built his confidence. Susan was always a calming and enthusiastic guide for him. He quickly trusted her and really listened to what she was saying (with the odd break and chat - he likes to chat!) Booking was very easy and everything is very well organised. Susan and her team are fab! read more

Booking was easy. Sebastian was timely, encouraging and honest. Two sessions and our son was off and riding. Thank you so much! Well worth the drive! read more

Susan was wonderful and easy to work with and both our kids were up and running after one lesson!

Our 7-year-old kiddo is a combination of stubborn and risk-averse so we had spent years trying to get them on a bike to no avail. After two lessons with Susan, they are biking around on their own and are full of pride and self confidence. Susan's method, patience, gentleness, and sense of humor are exactly what our kiddo needed and we can't recommend the Bicycle Riding School enough! read more

Bicycle Riding School - Specialty Schools Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

I have nothing but the greatest praise for this school! We were convinced our daughter would never ride a bike, but Sebastian was amazing with her and their method is great. She was riding unassisted by early in the second session. They have all the gear you could need and bikes that are optimized for learning. I probably should have booked a group lesson and included myself as I could be a better rider, but I'm glad my daughter had all the attention from Sebastian. read more

We were trying and trying to get my 6 year old riding, he could not get the balance down. We tried balance bike, training wheels, running holding his shoulders, grass, pavement... We had ONE lesson with Susan and he's a real bike rider! We can't get him off it now. Thank you Susan! read more

I have to thank Susan for helping me learn to ride a bike in my 30s. Started off gliding in a lot, then moved to the bike path where I had so much fun riding. Every lesson was memorable and I forgot what it felt like to fear falling off a bike. I would 10/10 recommend Bicycle Riding School to anyone who never learned as a child like myself. read more

Highly recommend! We did a group lesson with Susan and a private lesson with Robbie, and they were both great. My son really struggled learning to ride and worked with other teachers previously without success. Susan and Robbie had him riding within two lessons. We were amazed. The teachers are so knowledgeable and patient- truly a gift. read more

They are patient and kind and made bike riders out of both of my kids. Highly recommend!

This is very late in reviewing. I moved to Boston area in 2019. I was embarrassed that I was a 50 something who couldn't ride Fast forward less than two years and I completed 22 mile trip today! I love love love riding. I can ride in the colder weather, I ride in a raised seat. I even ride a little bit ion the street My husband is a very experienced rider. Now we can ride together Susan is the best. My life has changed for the better. Im healthy and very happy read more

1.5 lessons in and my timid and stubborn 6 year old was riding completely independently! So grateful and impressed. Highly recommend! read more

Bicycle Riding School - Specialty Schools Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Susan is such a gift! It has been such a challenge to get my kids to ride bikes, and Susan got my 10 year old and 7 year old riding in the first and second lesson respectively. I am so grateful for Bicycle Riding School and would recommend it with flying colors. read more

I cannot recommend Bicycle Riding School highly enough. My 6 yr old went from 0 to bike rider. Susan has endless patience and wisdom for young riders. Just a wonderful experience! read more

Thank you Susan, my son and I, enjoyed our time at Bicycle Riding School. I never was able to ride a bike and couldn't get my son to do it without training wheels, but with your instructions, we were riding like pros in less than an hour. Susan makes riding a bike so easy. read more

Our newly minted 6 year old was cruising on a 2-wheeler before the end of the second lesson! Paul was incredible! He was patient and kind and really made our daughter feel safe and comfortable while learning; bonus points for teaching mom and dad how to correctly guide her in learning how to ride. Our private classes was absolutely worth it. There is nothing better than seeing the pride of accomplishment on your little one's face. read more

Learn to ride a bike no matter what.....any age...any history I know I was amazingly lucky to find this teacher and school. Definitely a harbinger of good things to come in my new life in Cambridge. There is a reason Susan McLucas is the Bike Whisperer...ever egalitarian her method is laid out for any with internet access, but (in person) in action she knows the short phrase to tell each person to 'adjust' their entire approach and experience. She genuinely cheers for each success jumping in the air and high fiving (When it comes to cheery overly firendly enthusiasm I become a major curmudgeon. But with McLucas it is SO genuine I actually felt warmed and encouraged.) She operates out of a barn conveniently located near a large practice playground and a bike path. A variety of bicycles in excellent working repair await....so do helmets, gloves, knee pads, elbow pads, parkas, rain gear, sweaters, water bottles....Once I saw The Operation I realized she could even teach an older relative of mine, one who is able to identify and voice any available objection...but what would be left to cite? nothing! hehehe I was wondering if her 4 class series would do the trick...but every student (even the ones who came back for additional lessons) was 'up' on their bike within the first ten minutes.... Even though it's not base jumping, it might as well have been for me, learning a new physical skill as an adult definitely helps stave off the idea that certain doors are closed...a very good thing. Check out this article in The Christian Science Monitor about the teacher, her method and some of the students. http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/1108/p20s01-lign.html Bicycle Riding School (aka Bicycle Barn & Riding School): http://www.bicycleridingschool.org/ read more

Bicycle Riding School - Specialty Schools Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

I took my daughters to the Bicycle Riding School. That was a number of years ago. I myself had forgotten how to ride a bike. Soon afterwards we were biking together for fun. I thought of coming here because I just biked to work twice this week. Who said you cannot teach and old dog new tricks? It all started with the Bicycle Riding School lessons! read more

Susan is an angel. I was so ashamed that I never learned to ride as a child, and Susan totally helped me with riding. Within the first lesson itself I was pretty comfy with balance and was already getting the hang of things. I still took a couple more lessons as I had a dream of riding for pleasure + for errands/work when possible. I absolutely love her "Graduation" ceremony and certificate of completion (along with potluck lunch with other students and friends) Just makes it so much more jubilant an achievement! :)) I took those lessons in June 2013, and just realized I never wrote a testimonial for someone as AMAZING as Susan, and so I decided to finally get to it now. Better late than never. It's now 2018 and I bike very often. I have a membership with Hubway (since I don't have place to store a bike at my apartment) and it works out super for me. I ride confidently on roads all across New England in traffic, with no fear. It's a breeze and one of the best things I did for myself. All thanks to Susan and her amazing Bicycle Riding School! Do yourself a favor (no matter what age you are) and take lessons with Susan if you want to ride a bike. Such joy! Thank you, Susan! You're the best! Ever Grateful! read more

Bicycle Riding School - Susan preps students before their "Graduation" ride! - Specialty Schools Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Fantastic experience for both my daughters (5 and 11). Dyani is the best, and my daughters went from hesitant to excited for their next lesson! read more

Susan is a wonderful teacher and person. She took my fearful 8 yo Grandson to a confident rider in 4 classes. She went above and beyond, in rain, frigid temperatures to give him the confidence he now has. I recommend this school to anyone who is afraid to learn how to ride a bike, no matter what the age! ET (yes ET from the movie) is her teaching assistant to children, my Grandson couldn't wait to watch the movie and ride like Eliot. We are so grateful to have found Susan and her wonderful school!!! Pam & Kayden Watertown, Ma read more

Talk about the things one can forget to learn! Well I did forget how to learn the bike, part of it was that I never made it passed the training wheels, simply because the one after that, that was available in the place where I come from, was the huge adult one, and my feet barely touched the peddles. Yes I was scared I would fall, and I did fall and then I stopped. So I grew up to keep my inability to ride bikes a secret, why say anything...the response is usually something like "omg, how can you not know how to ride a bike", sounds like an ignorant comment to me, I prefer "oh yeah, thats normal, you will learn". Close friends said they would teach me, but never got the time, so I finally decided I needed to take it seriously and find some school where I can learn how to ride the bike and make it seem like it never happened in the first place! Like I always knew how to. So a friend of mine sent me the link to the bike riding school. The bike riding school in somerville is simply the best, my teacher (Susan) is the calmest and patient and makes you feel like you ( with a bike riding phobia) will finally be able to do this simple seeming skill that everyone including your grandmother, but you can do. By the end of my first lesson (in just one hour) I could ride the bike all over the parking lot, second lesson I was riding on the bike path, I was surprised! I expected a fall, a scratch, but no. So yeah, Now I fit in damn it! and unless you are desperate and your read this you would never have known. There are so many other people out there in your situation, don't give up, and they are very regular people too, like the cool seeming person next to you. oh and to anyone out there who ever said "omg you dont' know how to ride the bike" watch out because I will race you! its payback time. read more

Don't know how to ride a bike? This is the place to come. No matter your age, they will help you earn your 'pedals' and have some fun!

Susan is a miracle worker. She accomplished in an hour with my 6 year old daughter what my husband nor I could do over a number of weeks. Her patience, calm energy and constant encouragement while working with my daughter was so impressive. I thought it would take at least four lessons to teach her to ride independently but she was riding after just one lesson. We did a second lesson to get her (and my) confidence up in her pushing off and braking ability, which we could have done on our own but my daughter liked Susan so much and honestly, so did I, we just wanted to see her once more and support her great work. She's such a fascinating person with a really interesting history. read more

I was amazed at how quickly my son was riding. We had tried for years without success.

So everybody has their shameful secrets that they never divulge to anybody, not even their closest friends or family members. Whether it's that they lick Nutella out of the jar when nobody is around or that they have a crush on their postal carrier . . . there is always that unspoken something that you don't want leaked out. For me, it is that I cannot ride a bike. Make that . . . COULD not ride a bike. Because after just two 1.5 hour private lessons with Susan McLucas aka the Bike Whisperer, I can now balance on two wheels and join the exciting world of bicyclists! Growing up in a neighborhood in NYC that was not always the safest, my parents let us ride our tricycles around. But as we got older, my parents didn't have the money to get us bicycles and it was not safe to ride around the streets in our neighborhood anyway. Fast forward 30+ years and then you have an adult who just never learned to ride a bicycle. I always felt silly when my childhood friends wanted to ride their bikes in the summer and frequently made up excuses when my friends wanted to go on bike rides on the Cape or Block Island as an adult. How could I admit that I didn't know how to ride a bicycle? When I got married, I finally told my husband of my lack of cycling skills and he offered to teach me. He even bought me a new shiny mountain bike. He was patient and tried to teach me at a park near our house, but I was embarrassed to learn in front of 5 year-olds whizzing by me. I gave up after one lesson and didn't think I would ever sit on a bike again. However, since we are hoping to start a family in the near future, I thought about having to sit on a park bench as my husband and our future kids went on a bike ride. I didn't want that to happen so I did a Google search and found out that there is such a thing as Bicycle School AND that I am not the only adult in the world who doesn't know how to ride a bike. Reading testimonials from Susan's former students made me feel normal and not such an oddity. I immediately contacted Susan and I could already tell on the phone that she was going to be a friendly, non-judgmental teacher. Before I could back out, I immediately booked two 1.5 hour lessons with her in July. At the time, I was skeptical that two lessons would do the trick, but lo and behold . . . after two days riding around a school playground with Susan as my cheerleaders, I was able to balance and pedal a bicycle. I felt so amazed at my own progress. Indeed, Susan starts slow and goes at a pace you are comfortable with. She provides the bike, padding, and even water. She high fives you as you learn and exclaims, "You go girl" every now and then to encourage you. She is genuine and really wants you to master the skills. Not only was Susan a wonderful instructor, but she is an interesting individual and does charity work in Mali in the winter. The lessons were affordable and really life-changing. If you're rusty on a bike or never learned like me, I highly recommend contacting Susan right now! She teaches both children and adults near her home in Davis Square. read more

I learned how to ride a bike here at age 45, during a sweltering July day. My teacher Pata was very flexible about fitting me into existing group lessons, and also found time to give me 2 very inexpensive private lessons since I was only visiting the East Coast and had to return to the midwest soon. I had 4 lessons and was riding on the bike path pretty confidently near the end! Now I ride a road bike for fitness, which was my original goal, and am so happy to have gotten a great foundation at this school. This was a real ambition of mine and I am so grateful that this place exists. Lessons were so cheap it was a crime. read more

I thought it would take me forever to ride a bike, but within an hour of meeting Susan, I was biking away! Having finished the course yesterday after four sessions, I feel confident on bike paths and look forward to continuing after I get my own bike. Susan is patient and encouraging and an overall great instructor. I would recommend her class to anyone who doesn't know how to bike. It's so great to be able to bike now since my husband is an avid biker and it will become a shared hobby for us. All thanks to Susan! read more

Simply fantastic! We are two adults that never rode bikes before. Our instructor, David, was extremely supportive and helpful, and got us riding in half a day. 100% recommended! read more

Susan is AMAZING! She taught my 6 year old and my 4 year old how to ride a bike without training wheels on the same day, within a matter of minutes! read more

Great program. Susan is super nice and very supportive. I took the intergenerational class with my son and we both learned to ride a bike in only 3 classes and even learned some tricks like standing up and peddling! :-) I highly recommend this program if you or your child need to learn!! read more

Susan was a wonderful teacher. She taught our daughter to ride in less than three lessons and we had tried ourselves for over a year to no avail. She is very patient and interacted well with our 9 year-old. Lessons are at a nearby playground and all equipment is provided. She is very safety conscious, which I appreciated. I highly recommend! read more

Just outside Davis Square, Susan McLucas, aka The Bike Whisperer is a rare gem. Within minutes she had won over my stubborn, terrified ten-year old who would not could not learn to ride a bike from his parents. Within a few more minutes, he was on a bike, and very soon gliding, his confidence up enough to continue practicing until he reached full-fledged bicycle rider status. My entire family is grateful for Susan's talent and vision. Equally impressive as her low-key, 100 percent effective bicycle instruction is the sense she conveys that bike riding is a vocation. If you're lucky you will hear stories about bicycle repair in Nicaragua, a one-legged cyclist, bike etiquette, grocery shopping by bicycle,and of course, bike safety. read more

Susan is amazing! Within an hour my 6-year-old was pedaling around by himself. I did not expect him to be riding during his first lesson. Susan is patient and kind, a wonderful teacher! Highly recommended. read more

I have absolutely no words for Susan. She is AMAZING!!!! I absolutely had no idea how to ride and always wanted to.I took private lessons with her and it just took me 2 classes and I learnt to ride!!She even taught me few tricks on my 3rd class. Susan is very supportive, encouraging and has lots of patience!!Anyone looking to learn how to ride irrespective of the age, this is the place for you! read more

Susan is a miracle worker! She obviously loves her job and enjoys helping people to overcome their fears. One could not ask for a better and more supportive teacher. read more