When I was in second grade, my father brought home a bike for us kids. Since I was the oldest of the last four, I was allowed to ride it more than the others. We had a long dirt driveway with a slight decline and this is where I practiced. I wasn't allowed to ride it on the street, so I rode it around our large yard. After I tired of this, I was willing to pass the bike on to my younger sisters and brother. I can remember seeing my younger brother riding it, but I don't think my sisters ever did.
When I was in fifth grade, a girlfriend who lived a few houses from me was given a new bike for her birthday. She put a price of twenty dollars on her old bike and told me I should buy it. I asked my mother if I could have it and she said I could if my friend was willing to let me pay for it in installments. So we sealed the deal and I ended up with another bike. This bike I kept for years. I actually rode it on a five-mile bike trip with some friends one Saturday, but by that time I was in high school and had found other ways to spend my time. I don't remember ever riding it again.
After I was married my husband bought me a brand new bike for a birthday present. Then he bought himself one at a police auction. We had great plans for going on bike rides together. Unfortunately, this never happened. I somehow lost my bike-riding ability after I left school. I don't know what happened, but when I tried again, on my new bike, I was very unsteady. We tried riding around the neighborhood on some back roads, and I managed to stay upright, but I never felt confident.
One day we decided to buy a child seat so we could take our young daughter with us on our bike rides. So, while I was at work one day, my husband bought the seat and attached it to my bike. When I got home, I asked him why he had put it on my bike. He felt mine was the better choice because I was home more than he was, and I might want to go bike riding with our daughter. I wasn't convinced, but decided to try it, because, how hard could it be? I should have known better. The first time we went out, I lost control going around a corner and tipped over...bike, daughter and all. Luckily, I managed to keep the bike from falling completely, so my daughter never hit the ground. I was shaken, though, and refused to carry her on my bike ever again.
Now that I'm home more, my family is trying to interest me in riding again. I'm interested, but still afraid. I recently had knee surgery and worry that I'll fall and injure my knee. However, I went with my husband to buy a bike for him, and decided that of course I could ride again. So, we bought a bike for me, too.
We brought it home but I didn't try to ride it right away; I was scared. I knew I couldn't leave it in the garage forever, so one day I finally got on it and tried to pedal. Something didn't feel right and I got right off it. It seemed as if my knees weren't behaving right. I thought maybe my muscles weren't strong enough after my weeks of inactivity, so I went online and bought a small pedaling machine. Surely, after a few weeks of pedaling I would be ready for my real bike. Who was I kidding?
I thought about the problem while I was pedaling and decided that maybe my seat needed to be higher. I asked my husband to raise it for me. Which he did. I got on the bike, started to pedal and it felt so good that I continued down the driveway. Before I knew it I was almost into the street. I quickly tried to stop but couldn't remember how to use the hand brakes. I did the only thing I could think of and put my feet down to stop the bike. Wrong move. Over I went. Again. Only this time I didn't have to worry about my young daughter, just my knee. Sure enough, I landed on my new knee.
It's been a few days and I'm back limping around the house. I'm sure my knee joint wasn't damaged; only the muscle on the left side is sore. I have a few minor cuts from the shells that I fell on, and it's going to be a few weeks before I'll dare to get back on my bike. I know, however, that I will get back on it and will soon be riding around the city with my family. Maybe. Sometime.
