The Red Rocket

DH and I gave LO his Strider bike just about the time we had NB.  We didn't plan it that way, but that's the way it happened.  Pretty poor timing really.  Whether the timing dictated it or LO's cautious personality, it was about six months before LO really got into trying to ride it.  About seven months after that, we made our first trip to the mountain we now call home.  We met and made fast friends with my dad's neighbors and their children who also happened to have Striders.  LO made major progress in his Strider riding each time he rode with his new buddy.  (which was really only every few months)  In the meantime, our buddy G in our old neighborhood got his Strider because he liked LO's so much. LO and G started to ride together and, as NB learned to walk, he wanted to ride too.  Fast forward to NB's second birthday and DH and I wrestled with the decision whether to get LO a pedal bike and hand down his Strider or get a new Strider for NB. We knew LO was ready, and his mountain buddy was getting a pedal bike.  We also knew LO's personality might get in his way.  We opted to get Nb his own Strider and let LO have six more months to ride comfortably.  By the time his birthday rolled around, LO was eager for a pedal bike.  Two of his best guy buddies here were already riding them and he saw that they were faster.  DH and I began to plan for our purchase, and decided to make it a birthday (rather than Christmas) gift.  LO wanted a blue bike, but, in talking with other parents, be agreed that LO's first bike should be as lightweight as possible and have a low center of gravity.  That led us to the Islabike.  It only came in one color, and only shipped from one place in the US.  We never dreamed we'd pay this for a bike that would be outgrown in a couple of years, but, we reasoned, it would also get used by NB, it has a good resale value, and, knowing LO, it was our best chance for success.  We feared a bike that was too hard to pedal would just sit on the rack for six months or, worse, never be ridden at all.  So the Islabike it was.

We gave LO his new bike after all the party fun, after nap, and with only us, Aunt Cat, and Nanny K as an audience.  DH and I hoped for a great first experience, but braced ourselves for whatever came. We knew LO's expectations were high.  He had no idea that learning to ride a pedal bike required practice and could be hard.  We were afraid his expectations would lead to frustrations and melt downs.  So, with much hope, but plans for grace, we gave the bike to LO.  We put it together without pedals and let him ride it as he would have ridden his Strider.  We thought it a good plan to let him get used to the new height (16 inches) and weight (10 lbs more than the Strider).  He pushed it around for a minute or two and wanted pedals.

 

 DH helped with those and prepared for the maiden pedaling efforts.  What happened next was truly a gift.  In less than two minutes and just a few attempts with DH's help, LO was riding his bike by himself!!!!

The first time DH let go and LO was on his own...look at that face!

His third, and last, time having help.

It was the first milestone he's had that we could orchestrate ourselves and for which so many of us could be present.  It went so much better than we could have imagined.  He rode in circles at the base of our driveway for what seemed like forever.  The joy that beamed from his face was contagious. 

 

By 7pm I finally told him he had to come inside.  "Why?" he asked.  "Because it's almost bed time and you haven't eaten dinner yet!" I answered.  His reply?  "I'm not hungry, I just want to keep riding!"   No kidding.  If you know this kid, then you know just how much he loved that bike that night.  The bike, by the way, has been dubbed "the red rocket."

LO has ridden the red rocket for three weeks now and shows no sign of losing his love for it.  He has biked in the mornings, in the fog before school, he's ridden in Papa's drive way.  He's gotten quite good at avoiding his brother and other obstacles with a quick swerve.  He has pedaled up our driveway and is learning to stand and use his weight when pedaling is hard.  He loves most to ride for an audience and to ride with his buddies (who still help him up his game every time they ride together)

NB for his part, is riding his Strider like a pro.  One recent trip out he rode downhill on a walking bridge, with his eyes closed...twice.  That's our little daredevil!