My First Bike

Or more aptly titled my first bike ride and my first bike.  While on a bike outing with a group of bike writers last night one of the writers challenged anyone riding to do a short story with the writing prompt being "My First Bike."  So this post will be a brief story or longish blog post and here goes...

This is about my first two wheeled adventure more so than my first bike which was a tricycle and I was too young to remember much about that.  I recall the first spin on a two wheeler for real, I had made several attempts with my big brother and big sisters helping me out and trying without success.  My next door friend Nellie was a year or two older and she knew I was trying and offered her bike and her help one sunny summer afternoon.  The bike was a little big for me and she helped me up onto it and steadied the wobbling bike with me on it but I'm not sure how because it sure felt wobbly to me. 

Nellie ran alongside me holding onto one of the grips on the handlebar and the back of the seat I pedaled valiantly along, pretty soon Nellie was holding onto the seat only as I got up a little steam and the wobbles lessened.  By now I was grinning and picking up more speed and just delighted with myself.  A bit faster and now I was proud as punch and chatting along with Nellie who had been left behind and out of breath. 

By the time I noticed that she was no longer by my side, helping to hold me and here I was all by myself, I snuck a quick peek back and saw her all bent over holding her side from the sure side ache we all got as kids from running to fast too hard.  I was almost a block ahead of her and promptly realizing that no one was holding on, I tipped over.  That coupled with the quick look over my shoulder was enough to bring the wobbles back and down I went. 

But the main thing was that "I did it!"  I was a bike rider at last, one of the "big guys" who rode a two wheeler.  I recall a couple of summers of scabbed up knees when I got my very own two wheeler but the skinned knees were nothing in comparison of the freedom that bike riding brought.  I was no longer bound by where my little legs could take me walking.  I had the heady freedom of wind in my hair and breeze on my face as I cruised along on my bright and shiny blue Schwinn.  The birds of the air or the little creatures that scampered along had nothing on me. I was as free as they were to go as I pleased.  The seat had a big S on it and there was a chain guard that matched the bike, I had streamers on the hand grips for coolness sake and a big shiny basket for my moms sake.  I was now the runner of errands to the store for a loaf of bread or gallon of milk or whatever would fit in my basket. 

Now as an adult who has fallen in love all over again with a two wheeler, I can put aside the cares of the world when I hop on my bike for a cruise and sometimes I feel like that little girl, that summer with the breeze on my face and watching the birds of the air and the little creatures and the feeling of freedom and the joy of all outdoors warms me up and comforts my soul.  It's heaven on earth and a chance to steal away from the cares of the day for just a little bit.  It refreshes, renews and rejuvenates.

I love my bike.


What's your story?