|   A very large world in 300 ft | Dude
Aug 9, 2002 6:09 AM | | At some point in a persons life you are confronted with the truth, dreams, illusions and lies. I can clearly remember the day I asked my dad to take the training wheels off my Schwinn. It was a Sunday after church and I had changed out of my church rags and put on the good play jeans, hd beefy t-shirt and walked outside to see my bike for the first time without those ears in the rear. My dad guided me for a few passes, then one of the older neighbor boys "Bob, the one we all wanted to be like" came out just as my dad gave me a huge push. Off I went like a bat out of hell, pedal, pedal, don't stop pedaling is all that I could hear. I kept my eyes looking forward and now focused on Bob, Bob what the hell are you doing standing in my path? Uh, like kewl dude don't you know I don't have a clue at how to stop this thing without the ears on the rear?? Ok, now what, turn? What was that, we didn't talk about that, nor did we talk about anything else outside of pedal, pedal as fast as you can so you don't tip over. This is about the time I learned about gravity. See while riding a bike you start thinking about all the other stuff, that's just about when you tend to forget about the pedaling because of the joy. Just then is when I bailed in front of Bob the kewl kid later to become my sisters boyfriend. I thought oh great as I picked grass from my mouth and cleared the tears. Bob picked me up, dusted me, fixed the handlebars, set me back on the bike and gave me instructions on how to stop better just before he pushed me like a rocket back down the sidewalk towards my dad. I thought at that point nothing would or could hale in comparison, I believe I was five at that time.
So the other day I am driving home with my three year old and he says "dad I think we need to take the training wheels off my bike". Oh you do, and why might that be and are you really ready for that? Yes dad I am, see Eric doesn't have wheels on his bike "Eric is an older kid at school" and I can ride better than him. Ok son when we get home and after dinner we will work on your bike and see if you still want this to happen. After dinner we put the knee pads, gloves and helmet on. His mother guides him up and down the sidewalk sorta getting him used to not having the wheels. The smile on his face is bigger than the moon. I ask her if I can take over, right about that time I lean down and tell my son, pedal, pedal as fast as you can. I take three steps with him and PUSH him. He is off with me in tow, 100 ft, 200 ft, 300 ft, catch. I am gleaming, his mother is stunned, he is one happy clam. Lets do it again dad he belts out. We manage to make several passes, one ends up with him forgetting to pedal, running over the bushes and bailing in to some wood. His mother runs to his side as he cries. She picks wood chips from his mouth and I notice a chainring tattoo on him. I am very happy to see this and ask my wife to get the camera. He ask me why I want a picture and I explain to him that is a sign of great riding, pushing the edge just before I point out the big scratch from the fall. He sees his mom coming out with the camera and the tears stop as he belts out "Mom look at the HUGE scratch I got on my bike". We make a few more passes and have to call an end to it for the night. He cries because it is ending for the night, I gleam because I just relived my life, my wife is happy because he survived.
I took my son out for a slurpy last night to celebrate bring a dad. |
| re: A very large world in 300 ft | FtHoodMtBkr
Aug 9, 2002 6:18 AM | | most excellent dude;
lucky to get my nine year old to get off the pavement and onto some dirt |
| Nice. | Mojo Man
Aug 9, 2002 6:35 AM | | Great story, thanks for sharing. |
| way cool indeed (nm) | Hollis
Aug 9, 2002 6:55 AM | | nm |
| Great read.....thanks for that. | rotr no more
Aug 9, 2002 7:12 AM | | I'm glad you are taking the time to be a dad, and to be a kid, all at the same time.
Tim...missing his daughter. |
| Great post !! .....lol......nm | SoulRider
Aug 9, 2002 7:25 AM | | nm |
| Thanks, man... | wm
Aug 9, 2002 7:26 AM | | Very very cool read.
wm |
| I'll never forget that feeling! | Yeti girl
Aug 9, 2002 7:43 AM | | That incredible joy and exhiliaration that first time, when Dad pushes and you're pedaling, and you suddenly realize you're riding on your own (usually immediately followed by falling on your face!) How wonderful for you now to be on the other side of that unforgettable moment in time, and to share that with your son. Great story; made me smile BIG! Now all we need are the pictures! |
| I forgot that feeling a long time ago. | Pete.
Aug 9, 2002 11:51 AM | | I don't remember my first time riding at all.
Pete |
| I do. | Kitchenware
Aug 9, 2002 7:10 PM | | I got a bee sting when I crashed and my dad put a slice of bologna on it. ??? That memory's a keeper.
jim |
| good for him | Yeti_Rider
Aug 9, 2002 7:57 AM | | and o how I long for the days when a Slurpee fixed everything!
Michael |
| I hope I never forget as well... | sdbelt
Aug 9, 2002 8:35 AM | | My 6 year old asked for her training wheels off the day before her sixth birthday. She had just received the bike for Christmas 2 weeks prior, so I was pretty surprised, when she asked about it. Her 3 month older cousin didn't use training wheels, so I think she wanted to be like cassie.
I captured the key moments on digital, so hopefully I'll never forget. But I know/remember how you feel. Watching your child pedal, sans training wheels, is a very proud moment. These days, she keeps asking for her seat to be raised. It's a smaller proud moment, but cool in it's own way.
The first crash, caused by little sister whizzing by (without a helmet...I know, I know):
--sbd |
| Fantastic read! | mugg
Aug 9, 2002 8:39 AM | | Biking passion to the max. Thanks for sharing. |
| Very cool! | wg
Aug 9, 2002 11:36 AM | | Well written. My little guy has the training wheels but I know the day is coming soon.
Thanks for sharing! |
| I remember this time with my son and now...... | namaSSte
Aug 9, 2002 12:15 PM | | my daughter! Great post Dude! You brought a huge smile to my face this afternoon!
Peace, light, and pedal power! |
| Just spent 2 weeks with my Daughter.... | Battman42
Aug 9, 2002 12:23 PM | | we talked about her first bike when she saw a dad helping his youngest get started in the campground.
I missed my sons first ride as he is my Stepson... but we share the old tune "Cats in the cradle" done by Harry Chapin when I was a teen, and redone by Ugly Kid Joe when Ben was a teen. I have been the son, the dad, and soon the granddad in that song....
Thanks for a great read....
Tim |
| I am glad everyone enjoyed it. | Dude
Aug 9, 2002 12:49 PM | | I love this sport and to be able to share it with all of you is fun. My son has picked up on the passion, Shonny in the SoBe commercial, Lance everytime I have OLN on, Roland Green, Brian Lopes in all the ads. I tell him I spoke to a bunch of bikers from all over the world today and he really wants to know what you spoke about. It just blows me away the attention he gives it maybe it is because I always having something bike related going on at the house, or when we are on the computer I have mtbr up. I don't really know his reasons but I love them. Thanks for the passion guys/gals.. It's time to go ride and that is one thing I am going to get done. |
| Excellent! (nm) | cush
Aug 9, 2002 4:19 PM | | |
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