Week 1 Task 1 - Learn To Ride A Bike Day

[River Fenwick]

I vaguely remember learning how to ride a bike. For me, it took place in multiple locations, which I guess was so I could learn how to ride a bike on different textures. It was primarily at my childhood house when I was around 5 or 6. We were fortunate to have a larger yard to ride around in, which is the primary area (and also ideal) to learn because it would somewhat cushion the inevitable falls. Occasionally, after hours, I would be brought to a park or a local church to ride on their pathways and grovel/asphalt. The most vivid memory was in the yard, telling my parents they could let go of the bike, only to look back and realize they already did.

[Luna Ravenlong]

I have issues with balance and coordination, so was told when I was 4 or 5 that it was unlikely I’d ever be able to ride a bike without stabilisers. It took a few years, but the summer I was 8 I decided it was time to try and learn (mainly because my then 5 year old sister had just mastered it!) We were staying at a chalet in in holiday park, and my dad and granddad spent a couple of hours a day trying to teach me on a rented bike. The place we were staying had wooded paths, which was good as it was softer than falling on concrete-and I fell a lot. But after a lot of effort, frustration and falls, I managed to get the hang of balancing on two wheels, and cycle unassisted. Cycling back to the bike rental shop without falling or having to stop was a very proud moment.

[Ellie Vernez]

When learning to ride a bike, I'm not sure how old i was but I was taught by my mum or dad holding the back of the bike as I peddled and they ran along with me. Once I got my balance they would let go and I would try and peddle myself.
And let's just saw it took a very long time for me to get it. First time they let go I panicked and crashed. And then because I knew what was coming I panicked every time.
One time they let go and I actually did peddle for a good while when I lost my balance and crashed into a parked car.

And then finally they did it one time and I didn't even know they let go. I just carried on peddling away

[Katherine Laurier]

When I first learned to ride a bike, I was around 4 or 5, but I refused to ride a bike without stabilizers because every time I had tried, I would lose my balance or fall. I was a very stubborn kid, so my family let me continue to bike with stabilizers until I officially learned how to do so without them when I was around 7. Stubborn as ever, I thought that I was riding a bike with stabilizers. I was too distracted since I was playing with my cousins that I didn't really notice, and we were all playing a game. My parents played the classic move of pretending to hold on to the bike but they actually let go, thus proving that I indeed could do it just fine!

[Janne Halla]

When I first started learning to ride a bike, it didn’t go very well. I was excited to finally try, but the moment I started pedaling, things got a bit chaotic. On my very first attempt, I somehow managed to crash straight into a big, square garbage bin. It made a huge noise, and I ended up on the ground, wondering how that even happened.

After that, I gave it another go with my parents' encouragement. But then I hit two different trees. Not at the same time, one after the other. The final straw was when I ran straight into a lamppost. I wasn’t even going that fast, but it still hurt, and I just sat there crying because at that point, it was kind of ridiculous.

Everyone who saw me kept asking if I was trying to hit things on purpose. It definitely felt like I was. But after a few more tries and some help balancing from by mum, I finally figured it out.