This year we are enjoying our first summer with bikes for the whole family. Aaron decided last fall that if he ran...he was alone, but if we could all ride we'd be spending time together and getting (much needed) exercise.
So, last fall we all got bikes and the girls got training wheels. Since we live on an inclined street, the sidewalks are slanted in two ways...downhill and toward the street. So we began our weekend-ly routine of going SW to ride the trails. They are awesome and you can cover a lot of ground quite easily. Okay, "easily" if you don't have training wheels. Aaron would hang back with the girls and I would take off for a little BURN...then we'd switch and he'd have a ride off into the sunset. (Don't worry he always came back.) This was great for the fall, but come spring...Hannah was forewarned (if you know her, you know this was a necessary step)...that the training wheels weren't leaving their place of winter rest [read: the basement]! She was prepared for this and when we took our first "ride" this year...she was successful, but fast! I suppose this is usual for beginning riders since they have to keep moving in order to stay balanced, but frankly, I couldn't keep up with her. Thankfully, Aaron could trail her across a parking lot while Claire had a good old time--with extra-wheels still attached. (I played water girl.)
So now it's Claire's turn...she has been slowly improving, but she tends to hit the pavement more than I'd like. So, I hide behind the camera, say "Oooh!" and "Ouch!" This weekend we found a new spot to ride and I must say we all really liked it. Whispering Meadows elementary school has a gated parking lot (no cars to worry about) directly adjacent to their playground...there's also a huge map of the US painted on that lot! (I think it would make for a fun Geography game sometime!)
Anyway, Claire is improving each time we get out...
And Hannah rocks on two wheels!
So, last fall we all got bikes and the girls got training wheels. Since we live on an inclined street, the sidewalks are slanted in two ways...downhill and toward the street. So we began our weekend-ly routine of going SW to ride the trails. They are awesome and you can cover a lot of ground quite easily. Okay, "easily" if you don't have training wheels. Aaron would hang back with the girls and I would take off for a little BURN...then we'd switch and he'd have a ride off into the sunset. (Don't worry he always came back.) This was great for the fall, but come spring...Hannah was forewarned (if you know her, you know this was a necessary step)...that the training wheels weren't leaving their place of winter rest [read: the basement]! She was prepared for this and when we took our first "ride" this year...she was successful, but fast! I suppose this is usual for beginning riders since they have to keep moving in order to stay balanced, but frankly, I couldn't keep up with her. Thankfully, Aaron could trail her across a parking lot while Claire had a good old time--with extra-wheels still attached. (I played water girl.)
So now it's Claire's turn...she has been slowly improving, but she tends to hit the pavement more than I'd like. So, I hide behind the camera, say "Oooh!" and "Ouch!" This weekend we found a new spot to ride and I must say we all really liked it. Whispering Meadows elementary school has a gated parking lot (no cars to worry about) directly adjacent to their playground...there's also a huge map of the US painted on that lot! (I think it would make for a fun Geography game sometime!)
Anyway, Claire is improving each time we get out...
And Hannah rocks on two wheels!
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