My New Bike

My first bike was yellow. It had a banana seat, and I imagine it had streamers and a basket. A guy who was living with us taught me to ride it when I was six. He ran up and down our street holding the back until I finally took off and rode on my own. I don't remember his name.

When I was fifteen, and visiting Holland for the first time, The Captain and our mutual friend B, decided we would bike to a nearby city for an afternoon of fun. 

Now here's something you need to know about Dutch people. Dutch people are actually born with their first bike. It is pretty painful for the mother, but somehow she manages. Right about the time the baby learns to stand, they slap a helmet on and away they go! Dutch=bikes.

So I hopped on the bike and away we went. The ride to the nearby city was probably about 45 minutes, and then once we got there we were riding on streets with cars! and buses! and lots of other bikes! And even though my legs were trembling with fatigue, and I was terrified of being squashed, I just had to keep going because I could not lose face in front of these two guys!

Recently I got my first ever grown-up bicycle. When I say grown-up I don't mean it is fancy, I just mean it is intented for an adult. I'm not riding a clown bike. 

Tonight I went for my first solo ride.

It was awesome.

I just went and went and went, and I went fast. 

As a mother with young children, can I say, when do I ever do anything quickly? Can I get an amen?

My life moves in slowwwwww motion, and most of the time I feel like I am herding cats with ADD.

  

When I lived in Nashville I heard a story of a mom who handed her kids off to her husband when he got home, and she jumped in the car and started driving. By the time she looked around at where she was, she was already in Kentucky. The story did the rounds at playgroup. We all knew how she felt. 

On my bike I just flew away from the house, the dishes, the bedtime routine, the bickering, and just pedalled like mad. No cats in sight.

Then, after watching the sunset on the river, I turned around and headed back. My babies were all tucked in and I was all tuckered out. I'm pretty sure The Captain was laughing at me, just like he did when I was fifteen and rattling my brains out on the cobblestones, but that's okay. I feel better now. 

 

Comments

[Vivian]

Wowie! I love this story, everything about it is just so warm, honest and from your heart. Wish you were here riding your bike, we could go far and fast for sure!

[sarah b-d]

Wow - I'm inspired. Bike riding sounds like great fun. And yes I hear you on going slow. My mummy-brain often feels all fuzzy and it would be amazing to ride somewhere with the wind whistling by me. thanks for sharing x p.s. does your new bike have streamers?

[Kohana]

Thanks Viv! Sarah, my bike does not have streamers, alas, but it does have a basket! I want to train my little dog to sit in the basket. That would be so fun, right?

[Peggy Fitzpatrick]

Knowing you have a bike of your own makes smiley waves all around my heart. There is nothing quite like a brisk bike-spin around the block or a leisurely meandering bike "stroll" for setting everything right. Oh, enjoy!