As soon as I read the first few paragraphs, I knew the article was written by a woman. No man would ever teach himself to ride a bike this way! I learned how to ride a bike in 1982 when I was stationed on Camp Pendleton with the Marines. I had a Yamaha to borrow for the weekend. I spent 15 minutes in the parking lot of the barracks with my Marine buddy, learning the controls. I then jumped on I-5 and rode it all the way to San Diego (about a 50 mile jaunt each way).
A highly dangerous way to learn I might add and not recommended. But spending a few weeks riding up and down the driveway? You've got to be kidding.