The gentle slope method

Just found this helpful site that gives good step-by-step advice on learning to ride a bike: http://www.ibike.org/education/teaching-kids.htm

Not that any adults reading this are in the same predicament as am I, but perhaps this will help any parents out there who are in the process of teaching their kid/s how to break free from the shackles of training wheels.  Basically, you need a gentle, grassy slope, a bike, and a helmet.  Tell your child to coast without peddling.  After coasting feels comfortable, add peddling.  Then try it on a flat, grassy surface.  Bring band-aids and hugs.

The shackles

I actually used this method the last time I attempted to get on a bike, but that was 3 years ago and my bike, Murtle, weighed ten metric tons.  It was less than ideal.  Perhaps my seven-year-old and I will hit the gentle slope together, then break for ice cream.

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Mother’s Day

I’ve been waiting to post this, waiting to find time and waiting to share the news:  my family bought me an Electra for Mother’s Day!!  My husband took the kids to the bike shop on Friday while I was in bed with a migraine and the kids picked the color.  My son was so excited that he couldn’t keep it a secret for long.  That afternoon he told me that they went to the bike shop for my present.  “No, no, no, don’t say any more,” I protested.  “It’s not orange,” he lied.  Nice try, buddy.

My lil' beauty

We still need to take it back to the bike shop to adjust it.  I feel like I’m reaching far to get to the handlebars, but otherwise it’s great.  I now need the following:

1. A bike helmet
2. A lock
3. A basket
4. Repeated attempts to ride

My seven-year-old daughter is learning to ride without training wheels and she really wants to teach me.  I’m determined to learn before her or I’ll never live it down.

P.S.  For friends who wondered, the seat is down all of the way and my feet hit the ground AND it is a relatively lightweight vehicle.

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