Cycling

Summer is nearing it's close. They are brief up here but this one has been beautiful! They always go by quickly and it seems you run run run to enjoy it all you can before the snow flies in October (sometimes September). This summer was no different and this one started out with me feeling a little bad that I had not yet taught Beth how to ride a bike (with no training wheels). The got bikes last summer (which was also a little late), but were firmly content with the 4 wheeled versions (2 + 2 training wheels). I decided at the beginning of the summer that I would teach Beth how to ride and so we set out to the parking lot behind Woodriver Elementary School. It actually went surprisingly well. It definitely helps to have bikes that are the right size. The bikes we have now are actually a little small for them, but for learning, that may be even better. The feel very comfortable putting their feet down and know it's not that far to fall. Beth made it

 

                  

 

to the no training wheel stage in one day. We then learned how to turn and stop on the next outing, and then a few more to learn how to start. It was somewhat scary the first couple of times we went on the jogging trail by Chena Pump Road as she would sometimes start veering toward the traffic. She was thankfully pretty good at pushing the panic button, sticking her feet out and stopping. By midsummer, she was riding like a champ.

 

                   

Then came Izzie. Isabel wanted to take the training wheels off as soon as Beth did. I took them off and immediately she could sense the tipsy nature of the bike. Izzie is brave about a lot of things, but she hates anything that rocks (won't do canoes) and so as soon as the bike started to wobble, she wanted the training wheels back on. They stayed on until her first day of Kindergarten. We tried them off again and with dad holding on and promising not to let go, she kept them off for the day. She too made it that first day riding back and forth on her own balancing power. A similar progression of turning, stopping and finally starting occurred until now both the girls are full fledged bike riders. Owen will hopefully join them next year. Right now he can't yet reach the pedals, so I think we'll have to wait. He currently scoots arount "Flinstone Style" (feet on ground) on his tricycle.

 

We're looking forward to lots of family bike rides and we'd love to have our friends along anytime!!! More photos here.