Bikes!

I've been thinking a lot recently about how I wish I was riding my bikes more, but I haven't taken the time to do simple maintenance, like pumping up the tires.  Which means, of course, that the moment I want to get on the bike, I can't do it, because I haven't built in the time to get the bike(s) ready. 

 

This weekend we were going to a birthday party that was just far enough away, and ended just close enough to dinnertime that I didn't want to take the time to walk.  Since it was a three hour bday party, I had plenty of time to get the bikes out and tuned up, and still not be too late.

 

Samuel rode in the street next to me on his bike, and did such a great job following directions and riding safely, that it really inspired me to ride with the kids more.  But Shira still couldn't comfortably reach the pedals on the trail a bike.  And that thing wobbles so much. Ugh.

 

So today, I finally cleaned the garage up a bit, got Steve's bike ready to ride so that he has no excuses for not riding to work, and pulled the tandem out from under three other bikes.  I figured it couldn't hurt to see if Shira could reach the handlebars and pedal.

 

And boy could she.  What a champ!  We rode the full three miles to Steve's office to have lunch with him today, and the three miles home.  For those not familiar with a tandem, the stoker (the person in the rear) and the captain (person in the front) have no choice but to pedal in sync.  This is one of things on a tandem that requires good communication and paying attention to physical cues.  One person can't stop pedaling, or pedal faster/harder, without tacit permission from the other person.  It becomes a very unpleasant ride if you are fighting with your stoker/captain.

Shira was a natural.  Her communication was amazing.  She told me right away that I was pedaling too fast for her, and asked me to slow down.  She told me when her foot fell out of the pedals and needed me to stop pedaling so she could get it back in (and had no issue with her foot being in a toe cage!)  She told me when she was ready to go again.  She told me when she was going to start pedaling hard. 

 All that was completely unexpected and amazing.  But there's more - she could actually stoke!  When she started pedaling hard, I could feel it.  When she got out of her saddle and started pumping with all her strength she truly helped push us up a couple of little hills.  Wow. 

Six miles on our first real tandem ride.  Shira might spoil me.  I might not be willing to stoke Steve anymore. 

So excited to start riding more with Samuel and Shira!