Dear Grasshopper:

I didn't see your email at first. I'm sorry. That's pretty funny your dad telling you, you broke the bike! I hope you didn't feel badly when you thought that. My dad kept encouraging me to get back on so I did and pretty soon I was riding that big bike all over. I can remember when I was 12-15 we had moved north and all the adults who saw me riding my bike, which I did a lot back then, would laugh at me and say that thing is bigger than you are! But you know I think it really helped me to learn the basic skills because by the time I was 12 I could handle that bike, despite its size, very well. When I first got on my Bianchi my husband said I had really good cadence and he asked if I was purposely doing it. I said, I don't even know what that word means as I've never heard it before. I'm just riding the way I ride. So I think that had it not been for such a challenging bike when I was growing up that I would be finding things even harder than I do now. But I do remember it didn't all come together at once and I need to remember that. How are your rides doing? Do you use a mirror on your helmet? I have been thinking of getting one but I think I would like input about them from people who have used them before I buy one.