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
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 remember
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
I love riding a bike and think its an important skill all children should try and master, gives them so much freedom
amanda walsh recently posted…Happy Birthday To Us!!!!!! #MagicMoments
I love the way it also teaches them about their own abilities x
I really need to teach my girls to ride bikes, another one of those firsts!! x
chantelle hazelden recently posted…Silent Sunday
I highly recommend it! We started off on balance bikes and then went straight to 2 wheels with pedals – good luck! x
I have to get over my fears and give my kids freedom. I do find it tough!
Becky recently posted…Me & My Umbrella
I have to tell myself that they need to learn some things by themselves as that is sometimes the best way x
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 Journey
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
Lovely post – pinned to my Outdoors board. Have to confess, I never managed no handed riding 🙁 Alice x #magicmoments
Aww! Thank you that is so kind Alice x
Cycling with no hands, that’s way cooool!!! #MagicMoments
Luci – Mother.Wife.Me recently posted…Blog Surfing: 5 blogs with style and substance
I’m sort of hoping they will stop there and not realise there is downhill racing and all sorts! V cool x
Hats off for the riding with no hands, what an achievement! It must have been so hard watching though despite being in the country. What a fabulous post. Thank you for sharing with #whatsthestory
Charly Dove recently posted…The historic Ciudad Bolívar
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
I never got to the riding with no hands but I did love riding my bike as often as possible when I was younger. Not sure I could still do it now!
I tried the no hands again the other day and am a bit out of practice lol! x
Proud moment and what a wonderful sense of freedom!
sarahhillwheelers recently posted…Why holidays rock
It’s so lovely to witness the boys doing things that show they are growing up x
wow i was never ever able to ride no handed .. i still have trouble riding now i am in my 30’s !!
Thanks for linking up with #MagicMoments x
Jaime Oliver recently posted…Magic Moments 11/11/13
Able to ride one-hand so you can do traffic signals?
Thanks for stopping by #magicmoments x
Loved this and I was practically raised on my push bike. Sadly my two younger children aren’t that keen, but hopefully we’ll crack it soon! #magicmoments x
Super Busy Mum {Debs} recently posted…A Mothers Gift.
All in good time Debs! It does make our dog walks that bit quicker x
You’re so right that you sometimes have to just let them try! My boys can now both ride their bikes, so I’m looking forward to some family bike rides 🙂 #WhatstheStory #MagicMoments
Sara (@mumturnedmom) recently posted…What’s the Story – generation gap?
Family bike rides end up with me trying to avoid our boys and husband seeing who can skid and drift – but it’s all good fun x
What great fun! It is something we really need to teach our son how to do I think he would love it!
Mummy of Two recently posted…Getting ready for Christmas with Hobbycraft #CBIAS #shop
Teach him how to go no hands? We’re busy with our youngest getting him to do one handed so he can signal that he is going to stop x
Beautiful -I am looking froward to teaching Peanut to ride a bike…still a bit to go..!
blueberetmum recently posted…Magic Guilty Pleasures
Thank you! All in good time – our boys loved their scooters from about 18 months old x
All in good time – our boys loved their scooters from about 18 months old. Thank you!
lovely post. I know that feeling of wanting to stop any chance of them getting hurt but knowing you’ve got to let them try stuff for themselves.
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!
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.
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
Very brave of them! I used to ride for miles without hands, but I don’t think my kids ever did!
Sarah MumofThree World recently posted…Sunday dinner
Thanks Sarah – I didn’t think we were going to be teaching them either – I tried and couldn’t do it the other day x
Wow riding a bike with no hands, that’s brilliant xx
wendy recently posted…A fun family day out at the Gadget Show Live
Very proud child he was Wendy…thank you!
I can barely ride a bicycle with both hands on the handlebar, leave alone hands-free! Well done to your boys. #MagicMoments
Can you ride a scooter Vaidehi? I tried the boys a couple of weeks ago and my goodness were my legs burning – think I’ll stick to riding bikes!
Ahh sounds so lovely riding down a big hill not holding onto anything. It’s been probably over 20 years since I’ve done that!
Notmyyearoff recently posted…The Extension of Me
I never mastered riding without hands but I may have had more confidence to try if I lived somewhere like that. What beautiful scenery you have on your doorstep!
Molly recently posted…Retro Finds – Vintage Biscuit Tins
Thanks Molly – we are very lucky to see the English countryside and just love it. Thank you for popping over x
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 Berlin
Thank you for your kinds words Lystra! Yes – it won’t be long before you are both on your bikes!
I never could and still cant ride no hands! But riding my bike gives a great freedom and in the good weather I do miss it. When it rains like today not so much 🙂
Tina Mansfield recently posted…What a difference a week makes!
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
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 #46
What a fab message! You have shamed me as my two are still learning the basics with bikes!
76sunflowers recently posted…Muddy Boots & Honey Cake
We’re never too young to learn I am discovering…even when we think we have learnt a lot! Happy bike riding x