Future Rider

Well, I haven't been able to decide on my new bike yet...but I did keep my promise as the "greatest Aunt" and bought my adorable niece her new bike. (I'm single, no kids - the least I can do is spoil her :p )

Last year I promised her that if she learned to ride her bike (she was scared after a bad fall,) that I would buy her a new bike. That motivated her and she is a superstar in training now. I decided to wait until this spring to buy her the bike as she was going through a growth spurt. So she would go with me to the bike shop and look..the shop guys even gave her a catalogue. Apparently anytime she and her mom were at a store with bikes she always wanted to look.

She patiently waited all winter and last Saturday we went shopping for her new bike. She had decided on either the Junior Allez (the mini version of my bike) or the Electra Townie Betty. But understood that they were a bit too expensive for her Auntie right now.

At the shop, she fell in love with a Specialized Hot Rock and was pleased as punch test riding it in the parking lot of the shop. The guys at the shop were so great...and were increadbily attentive to her. Telling her (not me) all about the bike and helping her adjust to the big size change - from a 16" to a 20" - big change. She loves that it has a water bottle (just like her Aunt's bike) and a hand brake. According to her mom she is constantly riding it. She got a sponge bob square pants jersey for her birthday (from her bike obsessed Aunt of course) and her mom bought her gloves. Now she is begging for cycling shorts.

Now I just need to get my commuter bike so I can ride it on the local paths with her.

Promise me there's a helmet on top of her sweet little head!

Most definitely. It's red and black. She was actually determined to find a bike to match her brand new helmet...until she saw this one. She won't even get on the bike or her scooter without a helmet.

You sound like a great aunt, Sulis! Good job mentoring your neice.
My nieces just roll their eyes at me when I tell them how much fun biking is. No way would I get any of them into cycling shorts! :p

Good for you Sulis...now you have a good riding buddie. I hope she has a good lock for her new bike, too....Our weather is finally looking like we can get outside and ride. YEA!!!!

Sulis I does my heart good to read your post. I remember my blue bike when I was 12...and what a huge thrill it was for me. What a wonderful aunt you are! :) :) :)

You are an awesome aunt, and that is a sweet-looking bike! :)

Emily

Sulis, nice job. What a wonderful impact you are able to have. Who knows what long term effects it will have on her to be encouraged in biking early on? Lucky niece.