I remember learning to ride a bike. I was really young--either 4 or 5. My brother was 18 months older than me. He had a friend named Mike Horning. We were over at Mike's house. Mike had one of those little bikes that was probably one that used to have training wheels. It was perfect for learning to ride.

If you remember my ugly bike story, then you remember that in my house we didn't get a bike until we were 8. So neither my brother or I had a bike. Getting to try out Mike's bike was a thrill! Mike first let my brother (of course) try riding. Because it was a small bike, it was easy to get the hang of riding. It didn't take my brother long to start riding it around the street.

Being the tom-boy I was, I wanted to try too. So they helped me, and I remember vividly that it didn't take me long at all to learn to ride that bike. I can still remember trying over and over to get the hang of balancing while petaling. What a great feeling--it was like flying! The sad part was having to go home after that great experience. No bikes at my house to ride (my oldest brother was 9 years older than me, so his bike was too big, and off limits to me).

We rode that bike every time we went to Mike's house. When my brother turned 8, he got his bike, and I got to ride it once in awhile. I couldn't wait for my 8th birthday--and it sure was a long wait!!!

Now I have my shiny new bike, and I ride it all the time. It is so much fun to go riding with my boys. My younger son and I ride bikes to his school three times a week (we walk the other two days so we can give the dog a walk--my son didn't want her missing out on all her walks!) We recently took a 15 mile ride together--really fun and I was proud to see he did so well at that distance. He just turned 10. (proud Mom moment).