The stuff terry says about pulling the seat up really helped me. When
we first learnt, the harder i pulled it the safer i felt.
And about leaning forward--I definitely do it. I find it much less
scary to fall off forwards than backwards, even though there is father
to fall.
And do lower the seat. After we learnt stairs, i would do them on my
way into the office with my seat at normal height. It really tenderized
my crotch.
derek