i asked two of the grandies
to go bike riding with me
but to have mercy
go easy on me
i haven’t been on a bike in two years
they are great riders
mountain bikers, road bikers, hill jumpers
all i wanted was to get my bike legs back
by starting on a flat surface
they were patient
told me some roads looked tricky
but i’d be okay
along the way they challenged me
and asked me if i could ride
using just 3 limbs, 2 limbs, 1 limb, no limbs?
(no to all)
with 4 limbs, a few minor crashes, tight turns,
near misses, and less than perfect balance
i survived the ride
and rode the next couple of days with them
each day i got a little sorer
but the ride got a little easier
they figured i’d get better by the end of the month
when i asked how they’d rate me as a rider
they told me that i began on the ‘terrible’ level
and had moved up to the ‘almost moderate’ level.
Β i took that to mean
‘almost mastery’ level.
—
“she who succeeds in gaining the mastery of the bicycle will gain the mastery of life.”
-susan b. anthony
Symbolic of so much in life! So proud of you for persevering π
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thanks, and i think so, too –
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i suppose Susan coined a few phrases and vice versa?
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with a flip of the coin, she decided on this one –
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Well done you and I loved their system of scoring π
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thanks, peter and i loved their system, hysterical and pretty accurate )
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They showed no mercy!
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ha! they really were quite understanding along the way, and the scoring was not far off
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Good for you, Beth! I do spin classes several times a week at the gym, but I never ride outside.
It sounds like the grandies share your sense of humor. π
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i used to do spinning as well and i loved it! when i first bought my bike, a few years back, i was so happy that i rode it out of the store, and promptly crashed. somehow i forgot about the balance factor )
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That would probably be me–plus I’m scared of traffic.
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luckily, we’re not on the main roads – good for everyone
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π
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Love that quote!!
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me too, val !
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Great job, Peaches. Youβre on a roll, for sure.
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kind of a slow roll for now, but a roll nonetheless )
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YES YES YES to all of the above!!!!!!!!!!!!
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i thought you might like this, colleen – the bike queen
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It made me very happy! β€
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Such fun. I’ve often thought I’d like to begin bicycling again, but there’s no way I’d do it in my neighborhood because of heavy, fast traffic, and hauling a bike to “somewhere else” seems more trouble than its worth. So, hiking it is –but I’ll be happy to watch you attain the level of Grand Bike Master!
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i totally get that and hang on, it could be a while )
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Well done!
>
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almost moderately done )
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What a beautiful area to be riding and what fun to share the ride with your grandkids. You make the best memories!!!!
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it really is a pretty area, lots of them around here, makes me feel lucky )
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Reminds me of challenging myself in later years, to see if I could ride as well as when I was young. One of my faves had been to ride with no hands – no feet is hardly a challenge, imho. The caveat is a paved road in good condition. If one has to contend with a gravel or dirt road, much less any traffic the terms totally change. In those cases one has to keep their “hands on the wheel”.
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Absolutely)
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I would say if you jumped to moderate in a week, you will be an expert in a week. Mountain biking should be next!
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‘almost moderate.’ )
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Lol still reaching another level. Next is ‘almost expert’.
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that’s it!
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I ride all the time, and I am a living (?) contradiction of Susan Anthonyβs dictum. However I keep riding! Cheers!
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you are defying the odds )
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π
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Very well written!!!! Nice.
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thank you )
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Way to go, Beth!
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on my way!
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π
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A great poem and a great story! It sounds like it was a fun time with sweet grandchildren!
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Thanks, Ute. They are pretty fun people)
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It’s good on a bike, I love it and ride lots. I just got myself a new one, more like a Dutch bike to sit high and enjoy the ride. I don’t race anymore I do it get from A to B and to enjoy the ride! Well done you Master!
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Thanks and have a nice ride-)
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Way to go! Well done on getting out there and challenging yourself!
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Letβs just hope we all survive)
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Way to go! I’m terrible on a bike.
I’ve had very little practice, sadly.
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Me too, until very recently-
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There may be hope for me yet.
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There you go!
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nice cycle!
one of those things
you never forget π
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My muscles are beginning to remember)
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Perfect. And they would know.
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they sure would )
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Reblogged this on WELCOME TO MY BLOG.
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Well done! π I haven’t been on a bike for years. Your very well written post has inspired me to give it a try again, Beth. Recently I took up running again with the 5K App. As I have no grandchildren to give me a push, small helpers like this can be very motivating. π
Wishing you a wonderful Sunday,
Dina & co.
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i’m so happy to read this, dina. it certainly helps to have active hooligans around, but you’ll do great!
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π
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Now where are Siri and Selma when they are needed? Are they too busy reading books and staying in the cool indoors?
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Yes, going on a bike ride is not an option for them at the moment! π :-)They have their own little fairy summer house in the garden, door and all the windows open and I suppose they are eagerly blogging at the moment. π β€
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π π π
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Well done! The grandies must be careful. You will soon be overtaking them. π
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that’s right!
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Good job, Beth! Sticking with it is hard work.
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thanks and it is! )
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keep going – you’re doing well !
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Thanks!
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This one’s so funny! β€
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luckily i lived to tell! )
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haha! π
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LOL Such endearing patience and devastating honesty of children.
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the double-edged sword )
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π
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