Wheeeeeee!

Do you remember your first two-wheeled bicycle? I was five and my parents didn’t bring it out until after the last party goer went home and I was trying not to pout because I hadn’t gotten the present I had wished for. It was shiny and red and had training wheels—love at first sight for us both. I outgrew my trusty steed quickly and never learned to ride without the training wheels. When I was nine I wished for a banana seat and a sissy bar (to keep your passenger from falling off the back). This beauty was purple and had pink streamers on the handlebar grips—I felt like a princess and completely ignored comments about the training wheels.

I had fallen even with training wheels and was not all that courageous about trying to solo without them. My dad encouraged me though. He kept offering to take them off and hold me steady until I got the hang of it. One day I finally said okay. I asked him to promise over and over that he wouldn’t let go until I said I was ready. He promised. My dad was an older dad, he was forty when I was born, but by golly he ran alongside that purple bike and hung on until I yelled, okay I’m ready! I tasted freedom for the first time and have been hooked ever since!

Then life happened. Do we forget that rush of freedom do you think, or does it become ‘no biggie’? I was too busy to bike because of school, a job, a family—let’s wait until she’s older and we’ll all bike together. We finally did when Brin was nine or ten. We lived down the road from the Florida Greeways sporting some of the best Mountain Biking trails in Florida. We played on the trails for several years until we moved further away and transporting the bikes to ride became a chore.

My husband and I still have our bikes and have taken them out now and then but recently he announced he wanted to try biking to work. He thought it would be brilliant to conserve fuel, money, and burn calories; I dubiously rolled my eyes at him. We started pedaling short trips around our neighborhood, expanding our route incrementally. Biking is easier on his bum knee than walking so he was sold. After the initial aches and pains (oh my aching butt!) I realized I looked forward to our evening jaunts and we began going for longer rides on the weekend. The past couple weekends we biked to my moms about four miles each way, and did our errands: library, video store, post office.

When Jeff was ready to bike to work he had his buddy pick him up a little over halfway, and I pedaled alongside of him wary of morning traffic but feeling exhilarated by the crisp morning air and the rushing of my body through space. There are a lot of uphills, and I am grateful for low gears! Jeff has now peddled the full six miles to work in the morning and home again in the evening two times.

Today I saw him off in the morning and pedaled home—twenty minute ride. At 2pm I pedaled to my Weight Watchers meeting and met my daughter—forty minutes round trip. Back at 5pm to meet Jeff and check the mail—thirty minute ride. That’s a lot of calories burned!

The sidewalks, bike lanes, and cross walks all make biking in town doable and a great way to get some exercise, save gas, and live a ‘greener’ lifestyle. I’ve been pleasantly surprised at the considerate drivers who wave me on at an intersection or just wave hello. But the biggest seller for me is how good it feels. How good I feel. This is how exercise is supposed to feel—good! Something you want to do; not drudgery. I feel like a kid again, and it shows. Wheeeeeeeeee!

Comments

[Antonette]

How way COOL! This is the coolest thing I've heard! Thanks for always inspiring me to step up my game and to put me first! I'm going to get a bike - gotta pedal!

[Susan Sullivan]

Laura, What a wonderful post! It sure took me back to those early years of learning to ride my first two-wheeler. I can still remember it so vividly and we do have some fun family stories that ended with some bumps and bruises. My girlfriend had a banana seat and I thought it was the coolest. I wasn't nearly that cool until I got my first 10-speed.

Congrats on getting out on the road for exercise and what a great way to clear your mind. Keep up the good work.

Thinking I should dust off those two bikes my husband and I have in the garage..lol.

~S

[Laura Allen]

Dear AA and Sus ~ Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I hope you are both inspired to get out there and pedal!
Big vugs!

[Esther Fleming]

Laura,

Loved your post! My hubby got me a new bike for Christmas (my first bike since I was a kid). Although you probably won't see me riding around town running errands (you go girl!) I am looking forward to zooming around the neighborhood with my boys.