My goodness she is beautiful. Try putting your right foot forward on the plate and the left foot put just your front 1/2 of foot on edge of peddle closest to you.then push down with the left foot toes and then with the right foot toes. hope this makes sense. I like to work it this way,better than both feet in the middle.It's whatever gets the job done and your comfortable with.Enjoy her.and Merry Christmas everyone. Mary