Never Too Late

 

“It’s like riding a bike.”

Whenever I’d find myself at the receiving end of that popular idiom, I’d smile politely to offset the crushing embarrassment over the fact that in my adulthood, I still lacked the skill.

That’s right, I, Shykia Bell, have never learned to ride a two-wheeler (don’t judge). That is until this past Sunday when I attempted to face this demon head-on (with a helmet, of course). Max was beside me every wobbly step of the way and offered sound guidance and even documented the occasion on video. Being the dynamic duo we are, with his practical instruction and my steadfast determination, I went from stumbling every few inches to actually getting the hang of balancing and pedaling within the span of a couple hours. Best of all, I didn’t fall once, but I did bang up my knees and shins just a little while getting used to the pedals on the small (too small) bike I rented. I was also a bit overzealous with the brakes (my butt paid dearly for that over the following two days). Nonetheless, it was an enjoyable experience and I even managed to do a bit of sight seeing…

Watching out for stairs and benches.

Watching out for trees and bushes.

Watching out for joggers, bikers and children.

The next day I popped two Aleve and staggered out for round two. Rather than rent our bikes, Max and I ended up investing in some cool bikes, mine being my first two-wheeler ever. We tested out our new rides on the 3/4 mile bike path at Marine Park. After a few false starts and nearly hugging the vegetation (and a few random strangers) I made a full lap. Granted, I still have to become more comfortable with steering, but I think I’m off to a fairly decent start. 

I always figured if I didn’t know how to ride a bike by now, I never would. As I have with many other things, I’ve proven myself wrong. I’m looking forward to incorporating my bike into my fitness routine and getting back in shape. I also look forward to the increased mobility and accessibility that comes with cycling.

Here’s a link to the video Max took of my progress on day one. No footage of day two. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Zh4NF0jFdU

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6 Responses to Never Too Late

  1. Lisa McCallum says:

    This is such a fabulous piece. So funny! Well done. If you can do this, you can do anything!! Love it.

    • Shykia says:

      Thanks so much for the kind encouragement, Lisa. I’m glad you enjoyed reading about my small adventure! 🙂

  2. So cool that you’re learning to ride a bike! Just one more reason I think the world of you!

    Great going!

    See you soon!

  3. I am so proud of you! I feel like a proud older sibling. God bless sister and stay safe. The best thing is when you learn how to ride a bike, you’ll never forget how.

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