two wheelin'

as i have alluded to twice before (here & here), riding my first bike (it had a flowered banana seat!) was an experience. it's one of those memories that's tucked in my head; but i never really gave it too much thought.

when i received my birthday gift from my in-laws, i was very excited because i basically hadn't ridden a bike since the 5th grade. that was about the most thought i had given the memories.

but the other weekend in the park, i talked to The Mr. about it. and he did what he's fantastic at doing: he gave me perspective. by the way: if you stick with me in this blog, all you millions of readers (have you told your friends yet??) you will soon learn that i am quite possibly the least introspective person alive. so, i'm constantly grateful to the people i look up to, because they always give me new perspectives.

i digress----

when i was in the 3rd grade, my parents moved the youngest 5 of their kids to Selma, Alabama. it may have been the combination of the promise of having more money, or the guilt they felt for dividing their family, but my parents bought us youngers new bikes for xmas.

it took awhile for them to come in. (not sure of the exact deal, i was just a littly) but when i got my very own bike i was elated!

i can't remember all the details about who was out there to try to teach me to ride this bike. i had never before ridden a bike. i never had a bike with training wheels (but i did have a trike when i was super-littly), so i would imagine someone came out there with me. but i know it wasn't either one of my parents. i have a vague recollection of my brother trying to tell me how to stop... alas, i wasn't very good at that and fell in the grass lots of times. but he was off riding his own new bike, so it wasn't completely important to him. (this is the brother that used to frog me for fun...)

so, i'm pretty certain i was left basically alone. our driveway was a little downhill. so, i didn't have too much space to practice (er, learn). i remember running into the back of our van a few times (and getting yelled at when i was told on). i was completely frustrated at this whole process. (sound familiar??)--- so, i gave up.

the next day at school, all i kept thinking of was learning how to ride that bike. i was pretty scared about it, though. i had already tried and was too frustrated. so it didn't matter at the moment. it never occurred to me to ask someone for help. it wasn't until the next day that i obsessed some more and got fed up about it. i really wanted to learn how to do this. especially because i knew i couldn't just let an expensive gift go unused. (in fact, typing that gives me the vague reminder that b/c i hadn't learned it over the weekend and clearly not trying on that monday my dad thought he should take it back).

so, on tuesday feb 1, 1983 i came home from school, and before my dad came home from work, i used the small flat carport part to learn how to ride without falling. so my first experience was basically riding in circles. then i rode it up a tiny part way of my driveway and down again and kept inching my way. i finally got the hang of it, & i couldn't've been more proud!

.........here's where the perspective comes in about 20 years later:
The Mr. listened to this story and his response was, "how sad." and i never really put much thought into it, b/c that's just how things were for me. but yes. it is sad if you think about it. riding a bike is one of those pictured milestones where your parents hold on to the back and push and you have a picture marking the wobbly descent into your new mobility.

chalk it up to something i missed out on.

so, please share. what was your first biking experience like???

observations at the park

so, yesterday while biking at the park:

we saw a live snake that we almost ran over (eewwww)!

i saw 2 deer up on the path cross into the woods. by the time we rode past that place, we saw one of the deer in the woods just watching us.

during our picnic, we also created a nice little story for the woman who was swinging by herself. turns out, her husband had been talking to the marshall.

we saw a couple pushing their stroller (aaawwwww)- wait! was that?... yes!!! ... for THEIR DOG!

we saw a lake that is seriously depleting it supply of lake-ness!!! god, we need some rain!!!

it's like riding a bike...

The Mr. & i have recently started riding our bikes in a nearby park. it's the perfect place for us (read: me) to ride. there is a lovely lake, nice wide paths, just a few hills (which i'm getting better at... and truthfully, they're pretty small. except for me!). one of the best parts about it happens after one of the hills. which is probably like a 5 on a scale to 10. once you go on top, you cross the road and go downhill so much! it's a blast. The Mr. clocked it, and we go like 18 miles an hour. exhilarating!

we have started a weekend tradition of taking lunch with us and having a picnic in between the laps.

the weather has been most cooperative, and it's something new and fun we're doing together. and each weekend, i curse myself for not ever having done this sooner...

...*flashback* ... The Mr.'s wonderful parents bought me my bike for my birthday a few years ago. we were totally psyched about it, and immediately bought a bike carrier and took it to a different park with skinny paths, lots of people, and a few hills (that lacked payoff). that was a one and only time.

our n'hood also has quite a few hills i am just not quite ready for.

add all that to the fact that i just have lots of trouble learning how to drive. it was trouble in a car. and it's definitely the same for a bike.

the last bike i had ever ridden was my pink flower-coated-banana-seat bike that has one gear and to brake, you pedal backwards.

this bike? it's awesome! AWESOME! and it comes with lots of gears. like a million. back in the 80s, when i rode my sister's 10-speed, i didn't know you could actually switch gears. i mean-- what?

so- my father-in-law (who bikes across states & up mountains for FUN) and The Mr. know how to ride bikes. i think it's in their blood. me?? notsomuch.
when The Mr. & i took it out for a spin- ohmigod the stress of it!

...Whaddya mean i need to change gears? this is fine. i'm pedaling. no problem.
well, it's a lot easier, if you don't make extra work for yourself. so when you go up a hill, downshift (??), and when you go downhill, you will have extra power, so you can upshift so your legs are in stride...
...(??) Whaddya mean i need to change gears? this is fine. i'm pedaling. no problem.

ok. so, yes. that was pretty much an actual conversation. nevermind the fact, then he proceeds to help me to understand (?) and he tells me when to shift. NOT GOOD ENOUGH. then he says to go up or down. (um.... which one which one??? there's two gears.... ohmy, stress!!!!!)

so, yeah. i've been wasting one of the best birthday gifts i had ever gotten b/c i'm a wuss at mechanics, driving, learning something from my husband.

but for our anniversary, i decided what a perfect time to go out into the woods (5 years gift is wood), pack a picnic, lose all inhibition and do something FOR HIM. b/c i knoooooow he would enjoy it. and so would i. if only he'd shuttup about the "correct" way.

so, about a month ago, we set off. he was all geared up (forgive the pun) and i packed a great picnic. the weather could NOT have been better! it was bliss.
for about 39 pedals in. then, the shifting conversation came back.
i got very upset and defensive and almost ruined the whole day.
my actual baby-ness coming out: ohmygod! shuttup! i'm doing this for you. i'm riding. isn't that good enough??

but, you see, if i would just listen, and he would be a little patient... all would work out.
after some much needed practice, i finally did learn how to shift (although i freely admit, i only fiddle w/ the right side) {he says that's OK, the hills aren't too large here}, and he would notice and say: "great job!" and i've gotten better about going uphill. although i still need my space. i'm not comfortable yet w/ him being beside me down hill or around a curve. but i'm getting better.

so, next time someone says: "it's just like riding a bike".... tell them to shove it.
because riding bikes can be hard and take years of arguing before you get it right.