Two Bikes Forward, One Bike Back

There are many milestones for families with kids that just make like simpler: not having to bring diapers, not having to bring "baby" food, the Saturday morning that the kid will let you sleep late (make their own breakfast), or no car seat. But one that I have be actively working toward lately is no more training wheels.

My son took to two wheels very quickly and have never looked back. My daughter, on the other hand, has been more of a challenge. This spring all the neighborhood kids started meeting in the street riding and playing. The training wheels on her Princess bike were clearly slowing her down. They were even causing her to crash every now and then. But being out with the "big kids" was worth it the risk.


About this time my son and I started riding much more, at least three times a week. I really wanted to include the whole family with this hobby. So, I picked up an Adams Trail-A-Bike and plopped her on. The first trip or two through the neighborhood was white knuckled for her but she quickly got used to leaning into turns rather than out like she would do on her bike. It quickly became a game - she would slalom us down the road simply by swapping her weight from side to side. Big fun as long as she didn't surprise me when I wasn't expecting her to do it.

But knowing how riding was SUPPOSED to feel riding quickly made the Princess bike obsolete.

We practiced a few minutes every night throughout summer on "The Green Bike" (a side-of-the-road found bike with cranks removed). As long ask she believed I had ahold of the seat she would ride up and down the street. But the second she found out that I was not actually holding her up, she would skid to a stop and hop off.

About half way through the summer I found a really neat (and her favorite color - purple) Trek at the local Goodwill. After a new set of tires, a seat, and a cute basket, she had a new bike that she really loved. I would bring it out in the driveway each night along with the Green Bike and her old Princess bike for her to pick her ride du Jour.

One day I looked out and she had jumped onto the Trek and pedaled down the driveway! She had cruised past a milestone! Wobbly but past it. By Christmas she was doing great!

Our next milestone was getting her able to do more than just ride in front of the house and join in on real trips. Of course Santa agreed she needed gears and hand brakes, and delivered a neat chrome Pacific with purple and pink accents. A little cleaning and lubing and it looked brand new. (Yes, a cheap-o brand but as an avid Craigslist fanatic, I know there are tons of girls bikes there for a reason... girls just don't stick with riding. If she ends up loving to ride like her father and brother, only then will I spring for a better bike.)

You might remember the title of this story is "Two Bikes Forward, One Bike Back". Tonight she announced (after a month) of riding her Pacific she liked her purple bike better. She stated she felt the new bike is just too complicated. Seven gears, two hand brakes, the taller fit, all take her out of her comfort zone. She just wants to ride, not think about "stuff."

Yes, a little disappointing that we lost a milestone but then again, biking is supposed to be fun before anything. Thanks Beena for reminding me of this. We will give it another try this spring.