How I survived Hell's Gate Biking Fest after admitting that I can't ride a bicycle

During the Hell’s Gate Biking Festival, Nelson tagged along with his friends just for the vibe. While his friends adjusted their helmets and compared their gear, he stood awkwardly by the vehicle, staring at the bicycles as though they were wild animals.

When they asked him to join them, he mumbled the confession that every non-rider dreads: "Actually... I never learned how to ride."

The reaction? Pure chaos. His friends burst into uncontrollable laughter, with one nearly falling off his bike before the race had even started. 

For the rest of the day, Nelson was the designated photographer, snack guard and unofficial cheerleader. He was reminded at every turn that balancing on two wheels was apparently a 'basic life skill' that he had missed out on.

But here’s the twist. Nelson’s reason wasn’t laziness or lack of interest. Years ago, when he first tried to learn to ride a bike, he was involved in a nasty accident that left him bruised and terrified. 

He had never forgotten the memory, and since then, every sight of a bicycle had brought him more anxiety than excitement. “When I was young, I was very scared,” he admits.

Nevertheless, the teasing continued, with his friends acknowledging that falling was part of the learning process. “Did you grow up without a bike?” one friend teased. Another laughed, "Ama baiskeli hazikua kwenu?"

Yet, amidst the laughter, there was something unexpectedly heartwarming. On more than one occasion, riders encouraged him to try again, offering quick tips and promising to give him lessons before the end of the year.
Because, while the banter stung, the truth is that cycling isn’t just about wheels and gears.

So, if you’re one of those people who never learned to ride a bike, beware: your friends will laugh at you, strangers will pity you and you’ll probably be handed the camera at cycling events. 

But you might also find people willing to run alongside you until you finally get it right.