Those were the days

My first bike was a tricycle with no tires, just rims. As the youngest of five children, there was very little in my world that wasn't a hand-me-down. I remember riding it in the yard and thinking it was the most exciting thing I had ever done! Fast forward through several iterations of broken-down bikes to my 10th birthday when I got my first brand new bike. Best gift ever!

Except for winter days, I was on that bike more than off it. There was a contingent of kids endlessly riding around the circle of our neighborhood. We would hop on and off at each other's houses for snacks and games of hopscotch and tag. I've never forgotten what riding a bike meant to me. It was fresh air, sunshine, laughter, friends, and the freedom to be in a group or be by myself. It was the 1960s and it was good!

I can't remember the moment I turned over my biking days for teenage pursuits, but I do remember how happy I was to begin riding again when I started a family. Being back on a bike was like meeting up with an old friend. I quickly taught my kids to ride, along with several of their friends, giving them a contingent all their own. It was the best gift I could think to give each of them - fresh air, sunshine, laughter, friends, and the freedom to be in a group or be by themselves. Priceless.

Give yourself a gift. Get outside, enjoy your day, enjoy your weekend. Take a bike ride and remember what it felt like to be ten when the world was yours. Come alone, bring a friend, or bring a contingent. You won't regret it.

By: Linda (Mel’s Mom)