Learning to Ride

Since we're talking about bikes this month (see Shiny New Bike), I started thinking about my first bike and about what it felt to ride it.

Actually, my very first bike was, of course, a tricycle. It was red and white and had those plastic ribbons hanging from each handle. I got it for Christmas. Unfortunately, I got another Christmas gift all over it almost immediately. It was the first year for Silly Putty, and they hadn't quite worked out all the kinks. I managed to string silly putty all over the handle bars and my parents had an awful time getting it off. I think turpentine was involved.

My second bike was second-hand. A chubby little red thing with matching training wheels. I don't recall when the trainers were taken off. I believe my dad must have done it when I wasn't looking. We lived atop a large hill and I remember soaring down it (in the middle of the road no less) with feet on handlebars. I cringe to think of it now. I was a pretty timid kid but on that bike I felt invincible (despite numerous crashes),

—Betty

p.s. — Share your first bicycle memory with us at Boomerang! Email Betty at boominback@yahoo.com