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Follow these five steps and bicycling will become much easier and enjoyable.

1. Inflate your tires to the pressure recommended on the sidewall. Use a floor pump (save the hand pump for roadside emergencies). If you're riding on the road, use smooth, not knobby tires.

2. Raise your seat so that the down leg is almost fully extended. You don't know when it's high enough until it's too high. For more information, read Sheldon Brown on saddles.

3. Get toe clips or pedals with lock-in bindings. Practice getting in an out in an area free of traffic. Pedal rapidly (75 to 100 revolutions per minute) in a fairly easy gear. Read Sheldon Brown on using your gears.

4. To start smoothly, stand over the frame, hold the brakes, raise one pedal, then release the brakes and push down on the pedal while lifting yourself on to the seat. Shift to a lower gear before stopping so you can restart quickly. Read Sheldon Brown on starting.

5. Learn how to operate your bicycle in traffic.