like riding a bike
Permanently learned skill
Something that's like riding a bike is a skill you never forget once learned, even after long periods without practice.
The phrase reflects how physical skills encoded in muscle memory—cycling, swimming, typing—persist even when rusty: Don't worry, it's like riding a bike.
Often shortened to It's like riding a bike as reassurance before attempting something you haven't done in years.
- second natureDeeply ingrained tendency
- old habits die hardLongstanding behaviors resist change
- swimmingLocomotion through water
- recallMemory retrieval act
- autopilotAutomated vehicle guidance system
procedural memory · habit formation · typing · long-term memory · practice makes perfect · neural pathways · instinctive · easy as pie · effortless · back in the saddle · retention · habitual · juggling · innate · reflexive · skateboarding · practiced · skiing
like riding a bikeuse it or lose it
Maintain through practice or decline
easily forgotten · rusty · atrophied · short-term memory · forgettable
like riding a bikeback to square one
Return to the beginning
starting from scratch · like a fish out of water · out of practice · steep learning curve · fumbling
ride, riding, rider, riders, rides, ridden, bike, bikes, biked