Cycling free – as it should be for kids

cycling_freedom_mumof2

Cycling. Riding bikes is another way of putting it along with freedom, fun and testing things out, especially for children.

Can I balance?
How about peddling and balancing?
Is this the front brake or back brake?
How fast can I go and when do I start braking so that I stop in time?
How fast can I go before I catch a speed wobble?
Can I self correct and get out of the wobble?
How fast do I need to go so that when I brake, I form a skid mark?
What happens when I brake (or turn!) on stones?

We forget as adults sometime, how we learnt to do things but the boys often remind us of how it must have been. There has to be a starting point and once you have mastered the beginning, the rest sort of fits into place and naturally seems to happen.

One of the best parts of living out in the countryside, is that the boys can generally be free to enjoy testing things out with their bikes. Occasionally, they have to watch out for farm vehicles or large equipment and horses in some cases, but most of the time they can acquire new skills.

Whilst they learn how to do new stuff with either their bodies or bikes, I on the other hand am also learning to do the same and masking my sudden gasps with a cough or turning my body a bit so that they can’t see the concern. Just the other day, our eldest son was trying to ride with no hands. I can VERY clearly remember as a child cycling home from school,  riding with no hands at great speeds down a hill that had a corner and cars. My mom would have had a fit if she had known this! The wind blowing on my face and the freedom of not knowing what could have happened should I have hit a stone…pah!

So, armed with that memory, when asked ‘Do you think I can ride with no hands?’,  I encouraged but also sort of didn’t completely look and by george he did it! ‘Mom!! I did it!’ was the shout of pride I heard – for a second or two but he still did it

 

oliversmadhouse Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall

51 thoughts on “Cycling free – as it should be for kids”

  1. I never quite mastered riding without hands, but I absolutely agree with your sentiments about the freedom and challenge involved. I love riding my bike though, even with both hands! It still gives me a sense of freedom even now. I wish we had better access to traffic free areas to be truly free though I have to say.
    Iona@Redpeffer recently posted…We rememberMy Profile

    1. Thankfully the boys have the fields but it’s a good thing for them to learn to deal with traffic through the village as we have no pavements.

      Thank you for stopping by x

  2. I learned to ride my bike in a compound in Thailand, then in the country side in Scotland, and it was so much fun, and felt so much easier, than trying to teach my kids to ride on busy pavements and roads in suburban London. Both mine are getting new bikes for Christmas, I am looking forward to teaching them. Not sure about the no hands bit though. I will close my eyes for that! 😉
    Popped over from Magic Moments!
    Karen recently posted…Thomas and Friends Christmas JourneyMy Profile

    1. Our eldest son learnt to ride his bike on the pavements of London and also through Richmond Park and along the Thames. It is definitely much easier out of the city though x

    1. Thanks Charly! My stomach wasn’t sure whether it felt entirely comfortable with the goings on. Thank you for stopping by and I am enjoying #whatsthestory

    1. Thanks Afra – I remember watching our eldest do his first lap at the park on his scooter whilst I watched from a corner and I think I was more terrified than he was!

  3. I loved teaching all mine to ride a bike. The hours I spent running behind, pretending to be holding onto them when I wasn’t at all! I also taught mine to cycle no handed, enjoying passing on the tips from my youth. Now of course they are far more proficient at it than me. Having the country side and off road trails to practice does make all the difference, but teaching road safety is harder when there is rarely any traffic. Thankyou for joining me on Country Kids.

    1. You have put it so perfectly Fiona! We don’t have pavements so that boys are having to deal with traffic on the school run…along with busses, horses and tractors! Thank you for having me over at Country Kids x

  4. Hello there, what a lovely blog-I cycled a lot before my little boy was born and haven’t been back in the saddle since so a bit apprehensive about returning. However he is loving his balance bike (he’s only two and a half) so it won’t be long before we are following in your footsteps! x #magicmoments
    Lystra Maisey recently posted…Chapter 22-Bearing Up In BerlinMy Profile

    1. I don’t mind riding in the rain as long as there is no wind driving it at right angles into my face. I saw a chap last winter cycling up a hill in the snow- almost like endurance cycling and I just thought rather him than me lol! x

  5. What a wonderful experience, I love that you’re not wrapping them up in cotton wool, and it’s a marvellous photo.

    Nipping over from The Outdoor Play Party.
    TheBoyandMe recently posted…365 #46My Profile

Comments are closed.