Learn Any Skill Using the BIKE Method
The simple principles behind how successful learners pick up new skills.
I love to learn — I am always reading books, analyzing articles, and listening to TED talks. As I kept learning, I realized that there were some key things that every skill I picked up had in common, a formula that helped me learn many skills and systematically improve my abilities. But one thing had fallen through the cracks.
I didn’t know how to ride a bicycle.
Of course, I never admitted it — the fact always hid behind an excuse like “I’m just not a confident cyclist.” Deep down, however, I always felt terrible for never learning something considered so easy.
I decided that if I was going to create and share a general method for how to learn, I needed to stress-test it on the one skill I could never learn. Here are some of the ideas about learning I learned while starting my biking journey.
Principal Components
Data scientists and analysts used a technique called Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to find which groups of variables have the greatest effect on the outcomes (Source: Matt Brems). By limiting the scope to just a few of the influential principal components, it is much easier to analyze difficult data. The Pareto or 80-20 Principle has the same idea — just 20% of inputs have a disproportionate effect (roughly 80%) on the output.
With any new skill, there are hundreds of variables to consider: equipment, techniques, people’s experiences, and more. Thousands of websites and videos will eagerly tell you every little detail and the “top 10 tips” for the skill. The Internet doesn’t make it easier. When I searched “how to ride a bike” on Google, there were over 600 million results.
Only a small proportion of these search results—as PCA and the Pareto Principle point out — will actually help you learn a skill. In fact, you only have to learn a small proportion of sub-skills within the larger skill to be proficient. For example, the fundamental aspects to learn biking are balance, pedaling, and turning.
To learn a skill faster, you have to identify which combinations of factors, which Principal Components, will give you the most results.
Finding the Principal Components
Identifying the overarching Principal Components is not difficult. Look at various top sources and find what patterns in their advice emerge. The biggest trap to avoid is trying to memorize every detail and tips from each source. Always focus on the big picture and overarching themes.
Although it can be tempting to Google “How to…” tutorials for everything, you should avoid relying on them because many tutorials focus just on refining sub-skills. Even worse, some sources give too much or misleading detail, sending beginners off-track.
Not every person who learned a skill can teach you how to do it.
The Only Source You Need
A single conversation across the table with a wise man is better than ten years mere study of books. — Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
You might wonder, “How can I find one resource that gives me all of the Principal Components?” The answer is simple: find a coach. An experienced mentor or coach can help tremendously because they will help you learn and focus on the Principal Components.
Try to remember your favorite teacher or professor and what they taught you. The reason why you still remember their material is because they sparked excitement in you to learn, but also because you felt that the material directly related to your goals in some way.
Coaches have years of experience refining their craft — they know what matters and what doesn’t.
A good coach will give real, honest feedback but also will give you encouragement when you need it most. They hold you accountable, making sure that you are always working towards your goals, not away from them.
Becoming Your Own Coach
Not everyone has access to a good coach, but this doesn’t mean that you can’t get coaching. Although it takes more work, you can become your own coach by finding information that is meaningful to you. There are many ways to do this, but here some that worked for me:
- Look at a variety of sources and identify what common points they have. What is the one thing that everyone keeps saying?
- Find resources for how to teach the skill you are trying to learn. These sources aren’t common but are full of tested methods to teach yourself a skill rather than just a one-size-fits-all solution.
- Experiment with the various methods and find what works best for you. The tips that work for most people will almost always have to be modified to suit your needs and goals.
- You only need to research enough to evaluate yourself honestly. Keep a log of your performance and record videos to measure your improvement.
The Not-So-Secret Secret
You don’t learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing, and by falling over. — Richard Branson
Now that you have learned what Principal Components are and have a system of evaluating yourself with a coach, you have to solidify your knowledge with deliberate practice. Fortunately, you don’t have to spend hours a day do become proficient. By being smarter about how and when you practice, you can avoid getting stuck on the learning curve and quickly learn new skills.
Establishing a consistent practice schedule and spacing out your learning greatly reduces the time needed to learn a skill.
The students who perform best and learn the most aren’t the ones who study for hours the night before the exam, but rather the ones that break up their time into smaller sessions over a long period of time. Many modern studies have found evidence supporting short practice sessions. According to one paper, spacing out your learning “enhances memory, problem-solving, and transfer of learning to new contexts” (Source: Sean Kang). Whether you learn your skill by creating a daily routine, forming a habit, or taking lessons, find a way to plan short and consistent practice sessions.
What About Motivation?
There will always be some barriers between you and practice. Depending on what you are trying to learn, there could be constraints on time, energy, money, or some combination of the three. Your job as a learner is to remember why you want to learn and be creative when solving problems.
I felt embarrassed about learning the bike in my neighborhood, so I went to an empty parking lot to practice. During the early morning and late evening when no one was there, I stopped worrying about others and focused on learning. Motivation alone is not going to get you through the learning curve, so stick to your goals and don’t give up before you start. Sometimes the solution will be easier than you expect.
The Method
Within a few practice sessions, I was riding my bicycle comfortably, and now I ride nearly every day. Some skills will take many more practice sessions to learn, but you will surprise yourself how quickly you make progress using a pre-defined strategy. Just knowing the plan increases your chances of getting it done.
While trying to come up with a name for this method, I stumbled across the perfect acronym: BIKE
- Break the Skill into Principal Components
- Identify Your Coach or Coach Yourself with a System
- Knowledge Isn’t Power — Practice Consistently to Solidify Information
- Enjoy the Process and Celebrate Your Achievements
I hope this method has opened the door for many new hobbies, interests, and skills. Enjoy the process of learning from your failures, and share and celebrate your successes. Actually using the BIKE method showed me that no matter how easy or hard a skill may be, it is never too late to start learning.
After all, learning is as easy as riding a bike.
