My Mother The Cyclist

[aka_kim]

After several years of making vague statements that a bike would be nice, but then insisting she "knew" it would hurt her knees, my mother finally agreed to go bike shopping on the day after Thanksgiving. Yay, I love to shop for bikes!

We checked out various comfort bikes before she fell in love with the Electra Townie. It might have been the pretty blue color that sold her, but finding a matching helmet really sealed the deal. I couldn't get her to go for matching socks too - she just doesn't get the whole cyclist "fashion" thing just yet, but I predict she'll be wearing a Terry skort with matching socks by summer ;).

So she's now the proud and excited owner of her first bike in 50 years (!). My father calls the bike "Electra Glide in Blue."

http://www.akaprogrammers.com/photos/images/mom%20and%20bike.jpg

[Veronica]

That is so cool! Yay mom!

V.

[BikeMomma]

OOooooooh! Purty blue! Congrats to both Mom and daughter! Way to go! :D ;)

[cindysue]

LOVE IT! Congrats mom!

When is/was the inagural ride?

[Lise]

That is so exciting! Now you get to shop for her! Socks...skorts...panniers...bike trips...endless fun.

My Mom started riding when she was 60 years old. She'd quit smoking, and her best friend got married and wasn't around as much. Mom dug her Raliegh 3-speed out from the garage and started to ride. Not long after, she sold her parents' house in the suburbs and moved into the city so she could be closer to her new bike-club pals. Three years ago, one of her biking friends gave me a rusty Schwinn he'd found in an alley. I fixed it up and started riding myself.

Today was my Mom's 70th birthday, and I just got home from the party we threw. Her bike club friends were the last to leave. They love her, and her life is so rich because of them. I got to thank the guy who gave me the bike, and we talked triathlon strategy! What a wonderful community.

I'm glad your mom gets to be a part of it, too. :) Best wishes, Lise

[KSH]

I love it when people who are "older" start to exercise... they realize that it is never too late!

I hope she enjoys her bike... all the rides she will have on it... and feel good about herself for getting out there and doing it!

[massbikebabe]

TOTALLY AWESOME!!! You go MOM!!!


karen

[Adventure Girl]

That's sooooo cool! And that is one fine looking bike!

[RoadRaven]

Really pretty blue

Go MOM!!!

[Zub_Zub]

That colour is so cool! Your mum should be proud!

[Jo-n-NY]

Congrats to your Mom. She looks wonderful on her new bike and I wish her and you also many happy and safe bike rides.

JoAnn

[mary9761]

Way to go Mom and Daughter!! Sweet looking Townie. Too bad I'm stuck here in the heartland and y'all are all the way out there in California. I'd be honored to ride with the 2 of you. :D

[caligurl]

that is so great! and she looks so happy!!!!! gorgeous bike... and gorgeous mom!!!!

[aka_kim]

My mom lives in Phoenix and I'm in California, so I won't get to ride with her often, if at all. Her inaugural ride was around the block for .7 mile, after which she said it used different muscles than walking and she'd need some time to build up her strength. Her next ride was 4 miles. My brother and one of his kids plan to ride with her this weekend, and many people in the adult community she's in cruise around on bikes, so she should have people to ride with. And maybe, just maybe, my dad will be envious of all the fun she's having and need a bike too!

[caligurl]

ahhhhhhhhh that explains the rocks in the yard! i was surprised to see rocks in a yard in concord (looked at where you are from).... but being in phoenix... in the desert... explains it! (people who don't live in the desert or haven't visited it... don't understand the whole rock yard thing!)

[margo49]

Go, Mum!

Remember that there are more bikes like yours
than there are fancy,expensive hi-tec machines
like what some of us ride
(or envy)
It's what you do on it
and
how much you enjoy it that count :D