“It’s like riding a bike. . . “ is a common expression that does not apply to me. I loved bike riding as a young kid, but throughout the years, I haven’t ridden much. My adult relationship with bike riding has been a constant forgetting and relearning cycle. I’m learning how to ride a bike at 40 (again!).
I didn’t do much biking riding in my teens, 20s, and 30s
By high school, I had pretty much given up bike riding. The bike sat in the garage collecting dust. One day in college, one of my friends wanted to roller blade across campus. I didn’t have my roller blades with me so she offered for me to ride her bike because “it’s like a riding a bike”, I would remember how. Right? Well the campus was nice and flat, but I couldn’t remember how to start or stop. It was a terrifying trip across campus. I think I ended up walking the bike back instead of riding it.
About 10 years after that, I had met my now husband who occasionally liked bike riding and he got a used bike for me. We took our bikes for a ride around our neighborhood in our Seacoast neighborhood Dover near the Horne Street School. Horne Street is residential, but it’s a busy through street for cars trying to avoid traffic on Central Avenue. It’s also a little hilly. I had to re-learn how to start and stop the bike. I was terrified thinking that I was going to fall or get hit by a car.
Now I’m 40 and I am learning again
Fast forward nearly another 10 years to age 40, and now I have two children who love bike riding. My oldest is 5 and has been doing very well with her bike and training wheels. My youngest is 3 and loves “riding” his tricycle. I use the term riding loosely because he mainly uses his legs to scoot along the road while sitting on the trike. He will only actually pedal the trike when I lean over and push him. The things we do for our kids!
My husband fixed up my bike that survived two moves and has been sitting in our shed for 5 years. I tried to get on and I couldn’t remember how you were supposed to do that! I told my husband that I needed training wheels like our daughter. He laughed and once again showed me how to get on and off a bike, how to start pedaling, and how to stop the bike. Once again, “riding a bike” is something I seem to forget often.
If you are like me and cannot remember how to ride a bike, let me encourage you to try again. Here are 3 reasons I’m learning how to ride a bike at 40 (again).
- Exercise! Last summer, I tried some cycling classes at The Works, which I enjoyed although my entire pelvic region was sore after each class. But it was good exercise that I really needed, and it got me off my feet. I’m on my feet all day chasing after the kids, getting them snacks, and pushing tricycles.
- Quality Time. My kids have enjoyed biking riding together so I get to bike ride and spend some time with them. Plus it would be something we could do as a family. Granted my son likes to howl when I’m not the one pushing him . . . but we will work up to it.
- I get to be a learner, just like them. Our writer Katie shared how she learned to ski to be with her family and I relate so much. It’s put me out of my comfort zone learning how to ride a bike (again!) but my kids do it every day. So why can’t I? My daughter cheered me on as I grew more comfortable making turns. She was so excited that we could ride bikes together and so proud of me as I improved.
It’s been a really fun and humbling experience, especially when I accidentally crashed into my daughter and we both went down. While my pride has been injured, I know it’s all worth it.
