I wasn’t expecting it to happen, but I told myself: “Today IS the day”!

Husband & I went back to the empty parking lot for the third consecutive Saturday, and I got on my bike with confidence & major determination.

I pushed off & balanced with ease for a minute, when my feet finally found the pedals & before I knew it, I was riding…for like 4 seconds!

Joy found me.

My back was to Husband, so I yelled to him…“Did you see me!!!? I was riding”!

He didn’t.
He was busy on the phone & taking his bike off the back of the car. He took mines off first & I wasted no time in implementing what I knew I needed to do (but wasn’t ready to do) last week.

I put on my gloves & my helmet, prepared to fall, but not really thinking about it. Seat as low as it could go, I felt comfortable stopping the bike at anytime.

The second time I started pedaling, I looked down thinking “Oh, my gosh!!! I’m actually pedaling! I’m doing it!”, and that’s when things got unbalanced fast. I didn’t fall, though.

Every try after that was hurried, because I was excited & I didn’t want to lose momentum.

After about the fifth time of pedaling for a few seconds, only to wobble to a stop (because I kept looking down at what I was doing), I tried a suggestion from the owner of the bike shop: “Look ahead of you.”

Pushing off the ground, raising my feet, gliding balanced; right foot on the right pedal, left foot on the left; pushing down, pedaling slow, faster…I looked in the direction I wanted to go & tried to clear my crowded mind.

The result, smooth sailing!

Pedaling. Riding.
It felt amazing!!!

Husband kept reminding me to use my brakes, because I kept stopping myself in “Flintstone fashion”.

After I got the hang, he raised my seat a little higher. I also switched gears once. I started/learned on 2 & switch to 3. I felt like I was working on 3, so I went back to 2. Ha!

I even managed to get the hang of making turns! It was “scary fun”, because each turn felt like a near fall, with the bike leaning the way it did.

I’m not sure if I was doing it right, but I slowed down & pressed gently on the brake as I went into turns & my body leaned into it…kinda like you do driving a car (ever notice that…when drivers make turns, their heads kinda lean right/left…never mind)??? Someone please let me know if I have this wrong. I don’t want to ruin my bike.

One of my last few rides around the empty parking lot, to my surprise, Husband captured me on (video) his phone.

We were/are majorly elated! Can’t wait to hit some trails & bike paths…just in time for Fall Colors!!!

That evening, he took me out to a victory dinner & played this song for me.

“…Try and you’ll succeed…
Never doubt that you’re the one
And you can have your dreams!”


Fun, exciting, and at times, hilarious!
Easily…one of The Best Days of my adult life!


Video Credit.

Everyone says, once you learn how to ride a bike; it’s something you’ll never forget.

I’m counting on that.

Sometimes, I feel like I’m thinking too hard about it. That I should just get on the darn thing, push off, and start pedaling.

Sounds easy. Feels scary.

Why?

Because it is unfamiliar.

What happens when you go too fast? When you try to stop? Hit a rock, or something?
What if you fall?

Yes! That’s my biggest worry. I don’t want to fall & hurt myself.

These photos (& this post) are from my second visit to the empty parking lot to practice. We were about to leave, so I took off my helmet & riding gloves.

I was still excited from the week before, and had a good time scooting around some more on my new wheels. I worked up enough courage to lift my feet to the pedals this time…only both feet were trying to go at the exact same time, as the bike glided along, balanced.

I still wasn’t going fast enough, because by the time one foot would push down, I ran out of glide.
Wobble, wobble, wobble & brake.

I felt anxious & excited.

I was almost there. I could feel it!
My balance was way better than the last time & I felt more comfortable.

I knew I just needed to go faster, find the pedals (one foot at a time), push down, and keep pedaling.

Next time, Gadget…Next time!!!

I don’t think I stopped smiling that entire day.

We went back to the bike shop, the following week, stayed about 3 hours, and left with my new (and very first) bicycle!

It is an Electra Townie, AND I named it Blueberry.

When I left the shop the week prior, I tried to look optimistic, but honestly I felt defeated.

I talked to Husband, and explained how much I wanted this…how emotional it made me feel.

It made me think about growing up somewhat sheltered, and how I sometimes envied the other kids in my neighborhood who got to play outside; jumping rope, riding bikes, running, skating, etc. I played & had fun, but for the most part, it was all indoors. When I could go out to play, I had to stay inside the yard.
I didn’t have a bike; never actually wanted, or even thought to ask for one; needless to say, I never learned how to ride one.

It wasn’t until very recently that I became interested in cycling. I began to wonder what it felt like.
What was I missing?

After crying like a baby in my Husbands arms that Saturday morning, motivation found me. Before I just wanted to learn, but now, I felt like I had this personal mission…

Okay…had to break this post with a humorous (yet totally related) interlude. Ha, ha!

…so, we decided to buy me a bike for my birthday present!

I felt very safe & more comfortable on the Townie, so I researched it on the web.

I printed out a copy of the exact bike I wanted, so the bike shop could order it for me. They offer free basic maintenance for the life of the bike, when you purchase from them; so we’d purchase from them. Plus, I wanted to support GoodSpeed!

We went in & to our surprise, my bike was in-store!!! Yay for no wait! Only caveat was that the wheels were 2 inches bigger. This should make me feel safer, yet my mind could only think of it as, 2 more inches further from the ground.

We took the 3 speed Townie out to the parking lot once again, along with the 7 speed, to test ride which bike felt more comfortable to me.

I got on this time with confidence.

Again, just scooting around on the bike. Same as I did the week before only…

I pushed off the ground, raised my feet, and to my surprise glided several times. With each glide, I felt better; more confident that I could actually do it.  I wobbled a bit too, but I knew the Townie 7-speed was the one I wanted to take home.

These photos are from Day 1; the day we bought my bike. Husband & I went out to an empty parking lot to practice.

This was about as high as my feet ever left the ground & I never actually pedaled. Seat as low as it can go. Helmet for safety.

Video Credit.

I went in a little nervous. I knew I was going to have to get on a bike. I’m not quite sure why, but I dreaded this.

I kept reminding myself that I really wanted to do this. No one was forcing me & I wasn’t torturing myself. I actually wanted to learn.

First impression of the bike shop was…“Wow!!!”; Husband & I weren’t expecting it to be so nice inside (…well, he went in totally blind; I almost always “google” new places before actually going. Am I alone in this?) The last bike shop we’d been in left a lot to be desired.

This place was cool!

Helmets for safety! Will they fit over this head though?! Wait…don’t answer that. Ha!

Yep…the hair is back curly. Stay tuned for upcoming hair posts! I tried a few different styles while it was straight, and decided to hold off on Aveda.

Yes, that is a dressing room back there!

How chic are these baskets? Want!

If you’re in the south suburbs of Chicagoland, I highly recommend stopping by GoodSpeed Cycles, especially if you’re into riding.

The guys who work there are friendly, and they know A LOT about bicycles! My newbie questions were answered, my silly ones were entertained, and no one hurried or pressured us to buy anything (don’t you just hate that?).

There was an overall sense of excitement & true passion about cycling, that got me pumped about learning how to ride!

Tommy, who assisted us, was the epitome of the above (circled), and best of all, he understood my situation.

I told him that I:
• never rode a bike before
• was scared
• didn’t want to be that high off the ground
• planned to ride for leisure

Based on my size, situation & concerns, he suggested two bikes: a Trek comfort hybrid, and an Electra Townie. The latter having “flat-foot technology” (comfortable, upright seating; and both feet can touch the ground while you’re sitting).

We took them both out to the parking lot, the seats were lowered, and I got on each one to familiarize myself.

Tommy gave me pointers, and I tried implementing them…every one except going a little faster:(

I pushed off the ground with one foot, wobbled, tried catching myself/stopping the bike with my other foot, wobbled, pushed off the ground again, raising both my feet…
I think I glided once, maybe twice?…before things quickly got unbalanced again.

I did this a bunch of times around the parking lot.

Balancing was difficult (as I wasn’t going fast enough) because, speed, or the idea of it, was scary. Gliding was nice. Wobbling was getting quite frustrating, and my legs started to hurt a bit because, I wasn’t actually pedaling, so my posture wasn’t exactly how would be if I were riding normally.

I felt very odd, very stiff, sweaty, nervous & emotional.

Somewhere between wobbles, excitement left me, and a few times, I thought I might cry. My “dramatic mind” kept fast-forwarding to the very moment when I take off on my own; balanced, pedaling, riding.
Like a child in the movies when their mom or dad finally lets go of the seat…only, I’m almost 30.

Ugh.

I told myself to toughen up. It’s just a bike!
No big, right!?

Husband assured me that I could do it!
Tommy assured me.

I wasn’t so sure.

I never rode a bike before. This used to embarrass me, but no more. I know there are plenty more adults in the world who also have never learned how…so, I’m going to share this experience. Hopefully it will inspire someone!