Have a laugh - young boys and an old lady

[malaise]

Yesterday one of my neighbors was teaching his son and his son's cousin how to ride a bicycle. One is ten and the other nine. They could not get it done so I told the dad to let me have the bike for a few minutes.
Then I laughed at the two of them and rode the bike up and down their driveway. The thought that this old lady was having so much fun riding and laughing was too much for them. I also told them I could ride by six. The dad said he'd have them riding by mid-summer. Today they are having a blast riding up and down by themselves and waving at me. The dad still can't believe it.

[Nevilledog]

1. Old lady power!

[malaise]

3. These kids help the old folks around here with the latest technology

so they think they know everything. I was thinking that we may have learned faster because we didn't have training wheels when I was a kid and our parents let us fall down.

[Nevilledog]

5. Yup. Scraped knees are painful. Good reason to not fall over again and again...lol

[malaise]

7. Precisely

I also think lots of middle children are fearless and copy older siblings.

[brush]

13. I'm a middle kid too. We are the most independent because...

we don't get the pampering of the first borns or the babying of the last borns. That independence serves us well during life.

[malaise]

14. And that is the absolute truth

It made me a tough cookie - I always made decisions for myself.

[alfredo]

34. People don't know to adjust them up every few days until they can balance.

The best is to lower the seat so they can put their feet flat on the ground, then raise the seat as they start getting the hang of balance, pedaling, and steering with their ass.

[malaise]

36. I'll spread the word for the younger ones

These two can now ride and have fun

[alfredo]

58. I managed a bike shop in another life. Most of my time was building and repairing

Bicycles are wonderful machines.

[malaise]

59. I agree

When I was young I rode a lot

[alfredo]

69. Yeah, I found it addictive

[wnylib]

66. My first bicycle was a second hand, 24 inch

"cruise" bike (no speeds, brakes in the foot pedals) when I was 8 years old. It was heavy and so large for me that my father tied multiple blocks on it for my feet. I still could not ride it sitting on the seat. Once I got the hang of it, I had to get on and off of it at elevated places, like front steps. Eventually learned to put the pedals in position to mount it from the ground.

Our city newspaper sponsored a bicycle race every summer, in categories by age, gender, and bike size. There were no girls my age with a 24" bike, so I was placed in the youngest category available for 24" girls' bikes, about 2 years older than me. The difference was obvious and drew some chuckles from spectators. I was small, even among kids my own age. (And short as an adult.)

I won. I had practiced every day for 2 weeks. Was so excited when I rode through the tape that I cried. Release of tension, I guess.

[malaise]

67. Lovely

Tension or happiness - who cares you won!

[leftieNanner]

2. You bring so much joy to DU malaise!

And ferocity too!

Thanks.

[malaise]

4. Thanks

[jrthin]

17. I totally agree. nt

[FailureToCommunicate]

49. True, tis true!

[randr]

6. I'm guessing they're wearing helmets?

[malaise]

8. They weren't but the dad was with them n/t

[lame54]

9. I wish there was video

[malaise]

29. Of them or me

[lame54]

40. Of the whole thing

[malaise]

41. And the dad and I both had phones

resting on their car

[Niagara]

10. Good job, Malaise!

I was about 5 or 6 when I got my 1st bike with training wheels. Then at some point my training wheels got set at different heights from each other and that really flipped me out. Before I knew it, I was zipping along on my bike hanging out with the big kids.


These kids will always remember that cool lady next door that got them the motivation to ride.

[malaise]

12. Not sure they'll see it that way - maybe years from now

Training wheels came along for my brother

[Faux pas]

11. Too good!

[Cirque du So-What]

15. Reminds me of the first time I rode a bike without training wheels

It was last week.

Actually, I was 6. I forgot how to stop (pedaling backwards). Ran into the neighbor’s rose trellis and picked up every thorn in the bush.

[malaise]

16. Bet you learned to ride shortly after that painful drama

[Cirque du So-What]

18. Yeah, it got better from there

Had to get better! I went everywhere on my bike for years afterward. I had another accident when I was around 12. There was a steep hill at the edge of town with a gravel road. We’d ride down that hill and gain tremendous speed. This one time, my front wheel came off and I face-planted into gravel, lucky that I was only scratched up.

[calimary]

19. LOVE it!

Do NOT underestimate us "old ladies"! It's not that we don't make the world go round - we've already done it. We just did it a long time ago!

[llmart]

26. Hey, wait a minute there...

I'm 71 and I just rode 15 miles today. I usually do between 12 and 15 on our local rails to trails route.

[malaise]

56. I ride a stationery bike regularly, but walk 20K a week for exercise

Haven't ridden a real bicycle in years but you never forget.

[llmart]

62. Good for you!

I've spent the past 29 years walking four miles every day, but the old feet are paying the price. So now I try to alternate between walking and riding. However, I live in a climate where biking in the winter isn't feasible, so then it's back to walking, in all kinds of weather. I was a runner for ten years before that. In my 60's I took a spin class where I was the only woman over 60. I love the outdoors and hate exercising inside or at a gym. I think being outside just makes me feel better.

Us old ladies have to keep moving.

[malaise]

63. Us old ladies have to keep moving

The more you move the less the bones creak

[malaise]

27. And it's nice to show them every now and then

I have a great time with the kids in our neighborhood.

[flibbitygiblets]

20. What a sweet story! Thank you for sharing!

[AllaN01Bear]

21. this is a true story. i had a very over protective mother ,

when i was little , mom was trying to teach me how to ride a bike . she would nag , nag, nag , nag, untill i finaly left in frustration. . one day , after church, in my sunday best suit, i went to the back yard, opened the gate and took off, all by my loneseme. next day the training wheels came off. success to u on teaching them howto drive a bicycle . most eggscllent.

[malaise]

60. Very cool

Lovely story

[spooky3]

22. Those little Trumpsters couldn't allow A GIRL to show them up! Just

kidding of course. What a great story—thanks!

[malaise]

24. Not trumpsters and they have seen at least one girl who is a little older than them riding with her

dad but I have no doubt they could not deal with 'granny' laughing at them and riding like a pro.
I could not believe the speed with which they mastered it.

[spooky3]

42. Hahaha! Wish I could have seen it. And yes,

I’m missing tennis a lot—though I have been able to play a couple of times, since the county opened our public courts. I went to the ATP site today and read a story about one of my faves and his two kids. How are you coping?

[malaise]

64. I really miss both the tennis and cricket

Cricket will be back next month

[malaise]

39. Are you missing tennis as much as me?

[ARPad95]

23. My grandsons are riding bicycles without training wheels at 3 and 5 years old.

The 3 year old is scary athletic (scary in that he has no fear) and was practicing taking one hand off the handle bar when we saw them last week.

[malaise]

25. He will do everything faster because of the older one

It's amazing to watch. Very cool

[ARPad95]

68. My grandsons are very much like my older sons were growing up.

My oldest son (father of my 2 grandsons) was tentative and had to analyze things first. My middle son (4 years younger) just did things like he'd been doing them all his life. Both are intelligent and athletic and were successful in academics and sports at a high level.

[niyad]

28. How utterly delightful!! Thank you so much for sharing, M. Desperately needed a smile just now.

Just found out that a friend has just been transferred o ICU with CoViD19,

[malaise]

32. That is horrible

We lost a close friend to cancer last week - knowing it was coming didn't help.

[niyad]

45. Lost a friend to stroke (the last of many) two weeks ago. As you said, knowing it was coming

didn't help.

[Ligyron]

30. OLD?

You're not OLD!

I'm not OLD? OLD?

Who's old, not you...

...and not me!

we're not old!

old? Pshaw... old? HA!

[malaise]

33. OK I'm a senior citizen

I actually love growing old -discounts everywhere

[Ligyron]

35. That's right.

Love those early bird specials too for ... uh, not youngsters.

[niyad]

43. What was the phrase I heard recently?? Ah, yes, calendarily challenged.

I am, proudly, a cranky Crone.

[malaise]

44. old is easier

[niyad]

46. True.

[llmart]

31. I won't believe it until there's video...

[rickford66]

37. Simple method to teach bike riding

Pick a slight incline. Coast down, like riding a scooter, feet off pedals, feet close to ground spread wide to keep from falling and to brake. Steer a little left and right. Once balancing is mastered, try pedaling. I've taught a few kids this way. Wish I was taught that way.

[malaise]

38. Put on helmet first - makes sense

[mainer]

61. Gonna try that with my 6-year old granddaughter

She just hasnt gotten it yet and maybe this will work. Thanks!

[Glamrock]

47. That's too funny! You rock malaise!

Reminds me of when I learned, roughly 5-6. Dad took off the training wheels and gave me a push. I was doing it! I was fucking doing it! And I was so concentrated on my balance, I forgot how to steer and brake. Drove right into a neighbors car!

[malaise]

52. I laughed and laughed

spooky3 has a point - the thought of the old lady doing what they couldn't do (and laughing at them) was too much

[Lord Ludd]

48. Seniors rule! nt

[Brother Buzz]

50. I taught myself how to ride a bicycle while my older brother was in Kindergarten

It was his bike. Boy howdy, he was steamed because he just knew I was riding HIS bike, but couldn't prove anything.

Curiously enough, my son taught himself to ride at the same young age, too. I remember the older girl across the street came running up to us, all excited. We were thinking, "Oh, shit", until she lead us around the corner where we saw him ridding up the street on a borrowed bicycle with the biggest grin you can imagine.

I quickly built him his own bicycle, and in a short order he became a ridding fool.

Good for you for igniting the fire.

[malaise]

53. Very cool

[sarge43]

51. "Old people are just bent kids", George Carlin

and natural allies.

[malaise]

54. Carlin was a genius

Still watch him

[sarge43]

55. He was that.

I played his albums until they were grey and worn through.

Class Clown: His riff on hanging out with black guys. "That boy ain't got no ass!"

[mentalsolstice]

57. Because of balance issues from birth

I had a hard time learning how to ride a bike. My dad tried for years. Anyway, when I was about 12, my mom had a friend who insisted she could teach me to ride. So they planned a secret weekend, unbeknownst to my dad and I. Within an hour of being deposited at her door, I was riding the hell out of that bike. She sat me on her daughter’s bike, who was out of town, and she used language I wouldn’t expect from my parents’ friend. After that I rode all weekend. When my parents came to pick me up, they kept it casual. While my dad was out on the sidewalk, casually talking to her and my mom, I got on the bike and breezed by them. It was the first time I saw my daddy cry. And I can’t even tell you the freedom I got after that.

Now that I’m pushing 60, and having just moving back to the FL coast, I find myself in the market for a bike. Thanks for what you did for those boys! I’m sure they’ll never forget!

[malaise]

65. That is a great story

Get your bike and ride on

[mopinko]

70. i could ride a bike, but i couldnt skate.

old timey 4 wheel street skates, yes.
ice skates, roller blades or rink skates? many goose eggs to the head.

[malaise]

72. Balance issues?

[mopinko]

74. seizures.

made me left/right retarded.

[malaise]

75. I was talking with a woman at a pharmacy earlier - one of her sons

had three seizures last night. Take care.

[mopinko]

77. under control finally. fixed mine w high dose herb.

4-5 standard gummies. when i found the right dose of the right strain, everything changed.
it was pretty amazing to be bipedal. and have control of all 10 fingers.
tried giving the vulcan salute when handshakes were declared dangerous. couldnt do it then. can now.

i had a serious head injury as a kid. i died, actually.
docs never did see the seizures. probably in my brain stem.
only a bit left now, which i just found out i was treating because i smoke. american spirit. the other magic herb fucked up for money.

no more bruises or cuts all over, either.

[malaise]

79. Glad you're OK

[mopinko]

80. me too.

thanks friend.

[appleannie1]

71. We were poor and I never did have a bike growing up. I will be 77 in two weeks and still don't

know how to ride a bike. I have been considering trying to find an adult tricycle so I can spend time on some of the bike trails around here.

[malaise]

73. You can still learn how to ride a bike

start with training wheels

[appleannie1]

76. My osteoporosis is so bad, if I fell I would be sure to break a bone and last time I did, I got

clots in both my lungs and almost died. I just don't take chances anymore.

[mopinko]

78. well, there are always granny trikes.

[malaise]

81. I agree with you - go for the tricycle - you don't need any broken bones :grouphug:

Stay well