Apr5

“get a bicycle. you will certainly not regret it, if you live.” ~ mark twain 


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i was

so excited

to buy

my brand new

townie bike

it was

cream-colored

and fancy

and

i imagined myself

riding on a beautiful sunny day

into town

carrying spring flowers in my basket

looking at all the sights

along the way

waving to neighbors

i named it

‘white lightning’

because

of it’s beautiful color

and

because

i would ride fast on it

with the

wind at my back

i rode it out of the store

and

because

i’d been in spin class

for a while

and

feeling free

and confident

i took off like a rocket

into the parking lot

and quickly

lost control

and

slammed into

my daughter’s shopping cart

i’d forgotten about

the

‘balance factor’

and

I laid in the parking lot

laughing our

baskets off

as

people walked by

probably

thinking we were drunk

in the middle of the day

but we knew

it was only

the beginning

of

many

bike adventures

to come.

—–

image credits: schwinn.com, flikr.com

(this is a repost, but was triggered by my blogging friends recent post about the challenge of learning to ride a bike and my current bike riding spring fever)

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74 responses »

  1. I bought an expensive folding town bike to commute to work on in London. After riding it home from the shop, I was so terrifed by at least five close calls with cars and trucks, I put it away for 3 years. It came with me to Norfolk in 2012, and I gave it to my step-daughter to ride to work on it along quiet country lanes. I haven’t been on a bike since. 🚲
    Best wishes, Pete.

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  4. Better luck next time and be careful. I had bicycles all my life and love cycling. However nowadays it is harder and htere is so much more traffic, so it is more dangerous. I only do side roads mainly not the big ones.
    Cycling is so nice specially if you go to green spaces and enjoy nature with it.

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  5. yes, I thought this was a repost; still a wonderful read, Beth :) I remember a children’s picture story book when I was a kid; it had a postman riding a bike — I think his name was Mr. Murgatroyd and it had this line in it : ‘too much for one man and a bicycle’; can’t remember it’s name !

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  10. I just so love that you can laugh at yourself. Now that the return initiation to balance is over and done, are you still enjoying your White Lightening? (Might be a repost but is an original for me ;) )

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  19. My stellar move happened back in 7th grade when I rode by the cute neighbor girl with no hands and promptly ran into a parked car. It’s hard to be cool when you’re limping away with a bent frame.

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  21. It felt like the whole world had opened up when I got my bike. I’ll never forget it (primarily because of a notable scar on my leg when when I fell on a turn because of sand on the pavement).

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  23. Beth, how could you have known that I just bought a new bike for me? :) My husband and I went shopping yesterday and I took the plunge. It’s beautiful and actually looks similar to your image. :) But it’s been years since I’ve ridden a bike, so you’re right about the balance factor. I loved your poem and I’m glad you were okay! 🥰

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