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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHave a laugh - young boys and an old lady
Yesterday one of my neighbors was teaching his son and his son's cousin how to ride a bicycle. One is ten and the other nine. They could not get it done so I told the dad to let me have the bike for a few minutes.
Then I laughed at the two of them and rode the bike up and down their driveway. The thought that this old lady was having so much fun riding and laughing was too much for them. I also told them I could ride by six. The dad said he'd have them riding by mid-summer. Today they are having a blast riding up and down by themselves and waving at me. The dad still can't believe it.
Nevilledog
(51,203 posts)malaise
(269,191 posts)so they think they know everything. I was thinking that we may have learned faster because we didn't have training wheels when I was a kid and our parents let us fall down.
Nevilledog
(51,203 posts)malaise
(269,191 posts)I also think lots of middle children are fearless and copy older siblings.
brush
(53,897 posts)we don't get the pampering of the first borns or the babying of the last borns. That independence serves us well during life.
malaise
(269,191 posts)It made me a tough cookie - I always made decisions for myself.
alfredo
(60,077 posts)The best is to lower the seat so they can put their feet flat on the ground, then raise the seat as they start getting the hang of balance, pedaling, and steering with their ass.
malaise
(269,191 posts)These two can now ride and have fun
alfredo
(60,077 posts)Bicycles are wonderful machines.
malaise
(269,191 posts)When I was young I rode a lot
alfredo
(60,077 posts)wnylib
(21,621 posts)"cruise" bike (no speeds, brakes in the foot pedals) when I was 8 years old. It was heavy and so large for me that my father tied multiple blocks on it for my feet. I still could not ride it sitting on the seat. Once I got the hang of it, I had to get on and off of it at elevated places, like front steps. Eventually learned to put the pedals in position to mount it from the ground.
Our city newspaper sponsored a bicycle race every summer, in categories by age, gender, and bike size. There were no girls my age with a 24" bike, so I was placed in the youngest category available for 24" girls' bikes, about 2 years older than me. The difference was obvious and drew some chuckles from spectators. I was small, even among kids my own age. (And short as an adult.)
I won. I had practiced every day for 2 weeks. Was so excited when I rode through the tape that I cried. Release of tension, I guess.
Tension or happiness - who cares you won!
leftieNanner
(15,160 posts)And ferocity too!
Thanks.
malaise
(269,191 posts)jrthin
(4,837 posts)FailureToCommunicate
(14,025 posts)randr
(12,417 posts)malaise
(269,191 posts)lame54
(35,326 posts)malaise
(269,191 posts)lame54
(35,326 posts)malaise
(269,191 posts)resting on their car
Niagara
(7,677 posts)I was about 5 or 6 when I got my 1st bike with training wheels. Then at some point my training wheels got set at different heights from each other and that really flipped me out. Before I knew it, I was zipping along on my bike hanging out with the big kids.
These kids will always remember that cool lady next door that got them the motivation to ride.
malaise
(269,191 posts)Training wheels came along for my brother
Faux pas
(14,691 posts)Cirque du So-What
(25,989 posts)It was last week.
Actually, I was 6. I forgot how to stop (pedaling backwards). Ran into the neighbors rose trellis and picked up every thorn in the bush.
malaise
(269,191 posts)Cirque du So-What
(25,989 posts)Had to get better! I went everywhere on my bike for years afterward. I had another accident when I was around 12. There was a steep hill at the edge of town with a gravel road. Wed ride down that hill and gain tremendous speed. This one time, my front wheel came off and I face-planted into gravel, lucky that I was only scratched up.
calimary
(81,514 posts)Do NOT underestimate us "old ladies"! It's not that we don't make the world go round - we've already done it. We just did it a long time ago!
llmart
(15,555 posts)I'm 71 and I just rode 15 miles today. I usually do between 12 and 15 on our local rails to trails route.
malaise
(269,191 posts)Haven't ridden a real bicycle in years but you never forget.
llmart
(15,555 posts)I've spent the past 29 years walking four miles every day, but the old feet are paying the price. So now I try to alternate between walking and riding. However, I live in a climate where biking in the winter isn't feasible, so then it's back to walking, in all kinds of weather. I was a runner for ten years before that. In my 60's I took a spin class where I was the only woman over 60. I love the outdoors and hate exercising inside or at a gym. I think being outside just makes me feel better.
Us old ladies have to keep moving.
malaise
(269,191 posts)The more you move the less the bones creak
malaise
(269,191 posts)I have a great time with the kids in our neighborhood.
flibbitygiblets
(7,220 posts)AllaN01Bear
(18,443 posts)when i was little , mom was trying to teach me how to ride a bike . she would nag , nag, nag , nag, untill i finaly left in frustration. . one day , after church, in my sunday best suit, i went to the back yard, opened the gate and took off, all by my loneseme. next day the training wheels came off. success to u on teaching them howto drive a bicycle . most eggscllent.
malaise
(269,191 posts)Lovely story
spooky3
(34,483 posts)kidding of course. What a great storythanks!
malaise
(269,191 posts)dad but I have no doubt they could not deal with 'granny' laughing at them and riding like a pro.
I could not believe the speed with which they mastered it.
spooky3
(34,483 posts)Im missing tennis a lotthough I have been able to play a couple of times, since the county opened our public courts. I went to the ATP site today and read a story about one of my faves and his two kids. How are you coping?
malaise
(269,191 posts)Cricket will be back next month
malaise
(269,191 posts)ARPad95
(1,671 posts)The 3 year old is scary athletic (scary in that he has no fear) and was practicing taking one hand off the handle bar when we saw them last week.
malaise
(269,191 posts)It's amazing to watch. Very cool
ARPad95
(1,671 posts)My oldest son (father of my 2 grandsons) was tentative and had to analyze things first. My middle son (4 years younger) just did things like he'd been doing them all his life. Both are intelligent and athletic and were successful in academics and sports at a high level.
niyad
(113,587 posts)Just found out that a friend has just been transferred o ICU with CoViD19,
malaise
(269,191 posts)We lost a close friend to cancer last week - knowing it was coming didn't help.
niyad
(113,587 posts)didn't help.
You're not OLD!
I'm not OLD? OLD?
Who's old, not you...
...and not me!
we're not old!
old? Pshaw... old? HA!
malaise
(269,191 posts)I actually love growing old -discounts everywhere
Ligyron
(7,639 posts)Love those early bird specials too for ... uh, not youngsters.
niyad
(113,587 posts)I am, proudly, a cranky Crone.
malaise
(269,191 posts)llmart
(15,555 posts)rickford66
(5,528 posts)Pick a slight incline. Coast down, like riding a scooter, feet off pedals, feet close to ground spread wide to keep from falling and to brake. Steer a little left and right. Once balancing is mastered, try pedaling. I've taught a few kids this way. Wish I was taught that way.
malaise
(269,191 posts)mainer
(12,031 posts)She just hasnt gotten it yet and maybe this will work. Thanks!
Glamrock
(11,802 posts)Reminds me of when I learned, roughly 5-6. Dad took off the training wheels and gave me a push. I was doing it! I was fucking doing it! And I was so concentrated on my balance, I forgot how to steer and brake. Drove right into a neighbors car!
malaise
(269,191 posts)spooky3 has a point - the thought of the old lady doing what they couldn't do (and laughing at them) was too much
Lord Ludd
(585 posts)Brother Buzz
(36,469 posts)It was his bike. Boy howdy, he was steamed because he just knew I was riding HIS bike, but couldn't prove anything.
Curiously enough, my son taught himself to ride at the same young age, too. I remember the older girl across the street came running up to us, all excited. We were thinking, "Oh, shit", until she lead us around the corner where we saw him ridding up the street on a borrowed bicycle with the biggest grin you can imagine.
I quickly built him his own bicycle, and in a short order he became a ridding fool.
Good for you for igniting the fire.
malaise
(269,191 posts)sarge43
(28,945 posts)and natural allies.
malaise
(269,191 posts)Still watch him
sarge43
(28,945 posts)I played his albums until they were grey and worn through.
Class Clown: His riff on hanging out with black guys. "That boy ain't got no ass!"
mentalsolstice
(4,462 posts)I had a hard time learning how to ride a bike. My dad tried for years. Anyway, when I was about 12, my mom had a friend who insisted she could teach me to ride. So they planned a secret weekend, unbeknownst to my dad and I. Within an hour of being deposited at her door, I was riding the hell out of that bike. She sat me on her daughters bike, who was out of town, and she used language I wouldnt expect from my parents friend. After that I rode all weekend. When my parents came to pick me up, they kept it casual. While my dad was out on the sidewalk, casually talking to her and my mom, I got on the bike and breezed by them. It was the first time I saw my daddy cry. And I cant even tell you the freedom I got after that.
Now that Im pushing 60, and having just moving back to the FL coast, I find myself in the market for a bike. Thanks for what you did for those boys! Im sure theyll never forget!
malaise
(269,191 posts)Get your bike and ride on
mopinko
(70,247 posts)old timey 4 wheel street skates, yes.
ice skates, roller blades or rink skates? many goose eggs to the head.
malaise
(269,191 posts)mopinko
(70,247 posts)made me left/right retarded.
malaise
(269,191 posts)had three seizures last night. Take care.
mopinko
(70,247 posts)4-5 standard gummies. when i found the right dose of the right strain, everything changed.
it was pretty amazing to be bipedal. and have control of all 10 fingers.
tried giving the vulcan salute when handshakes were declared dangerous. couldnt do it then. can now.
i had a serious head injury as a kid. i died, actually.
docs never did see the seizures. probably in my brain stem.
only a bit left now, which i just found out i was treating because i smoke. american spirit. the other magic herb fucked up for money.
no more bruises or cuts all over, either.
malaise
(269,191 posts)thanks friend.
appleannie1
(5,070 posts)know how to ride a bike. I have been considering trying to find an adult tricycle so I can spend time on some of the bike trails around here.
malaise
(269,191 posts)start with training wheels
appleannie1
(5,070 posts)clots in both my lungs and almost died. I just don't take chances anymore.
mopinko
(70,247 posts)malaise
(269,191 posts)Stay well