Basic life skills: Check!
Accomplishments for the day: Learned to ride a bicycle!
Minus one hilariously awful attempt as a seven-year-old*, and some time on a stationary bike, I never rode as a child. Two weeks ago, I decided that I was tired of a)lacking a basic life skill and b)driving or busing to a school two miles away. I went to REI (or rather REI-Outlet.com), bought and bike and a helmet.
I actually got the thing Saturday, already assembled. It is really quite beautiful, but ever so slightly too large for my car. My attempts at getting the front wheel off to make it fit were...umm...notably unsuccessful**. By the time I got the bike back together (thanks, youtube!) it was too dark to ride. I have been bogged down all week, but I finally managed to get some time this afternoon to try.
Getting on is harder than it looks. Staying on is much harder. However, thanks to years of practice, I am actually quite good at falling down, so I avoided an serious damage. After many attempts, I made it around the parking lot! I am still really confused by the whole shifting thing, and I'll have to wear pants and long sleeves for the next week or so, but I can propel myself in a generally forward direction.
*I hit the broad side of a stationary mail truck.
**I managed to turn the steering column 180 degree and jam the entire thing under the frame. I had to carry the bike back to the store, because it wouldn't roll. The REI bike mechanic took one look, and proceeded to follow me out to the car, take off the wheel, and load the whole thing for me. He then signed me up for a free "Basics of Bike Maintenance class. Good decision.
Minus one hilariously awful attempt as a seven-year-old*, and some time on a stationary bike, I never rode as a child. Two weeks ago, I decided that I was tired of a)lacking a basic life skill and b)driving or busing to a school two miles away. I went to REI (or rather REI-Outlet.com), bought and bike and a helmet.
I actually got the thing Saturday, already assembled. It is really quite beautiful, but ever so slightly too large for my car. My attempts at getting the front wheel off to make it fit were...umm...notably unsuccessful**. By the time I got the bike back together (thanks, youtube!) it was too dark to ride. I have been bogged down all week, but I finally managed to get some time this afternoon to try.
Getting on is harder than it looks. Staying on is much harder. However, thanks to years of practice, I am actually quite good at falling down, so I avoided an serious damage. After many attempts, I made it around the parking lot! I am still really confused by the whole shifting thing, and I'll have to wear pants and long sleeves for the next week or so, but I can propel myself in a generally forward direction.
*I hit the broad side of a stationary mail truck.
**I managed to turn the steering column 180 degree and jam the entire thing under the frame. I had to carry the bike back to the store, because it wouldn't roll. The REI bike mechanic took one look, and proceeded to follow me out to the car, take off the wheel, and load the whole thing for me. He then signed me up for a free "Basics of Bike Maintenance class. Good decision.