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Date: 14 Jul 2007 06:01:33
From: Luigi de Guzman
Subject: First proper outing on the new bike
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Babybro's friend called him up today and wanted to meet at the park to go
ride bikes. Mom got grumpy--to her, that means loading up the bikes and
driving to the park, and then waiting for the kids to get tired.
It was a beautiful day, and I hadn't seen babybro out on the new bike yet.
"I'll ride with him," I offered.
He cheered. "Yaay!"
Mom made a face. "Don't worry," I assured her, "We'll take the side
streets. He'll be fine." Mom moved to protes, but Dad now chimed in.
"He'll be OK," he said, tossing his head in babybro's direction. "He'll
be with his brother. It should be fine."
We got ready to go: filled up our water bottles, checked our bikes, and
pushed off amid promises to be careful and warnings to stay alert.
I took him on the street, but avoided most of the main arterials. We did
have to cross Main Street at one point, but I had him dismount and take it
as a pedestrian--no sense exposing him to the full force of a high-speed
suburban highway just yet. We wound our way to the park through
subdivision side streets closed to through (automobile) traffic.
We arrived at the park well ahead of his friend. We made a few laps of
the park looking for him, but, seeing he had not yet arrived, we sat down
under a tree. Finally, his friend did arrive, driven to the park by his
uncle. I helped unload the bicycle from the car while babybro teased his
buddy for being late-- "We rode here--and you drove--and we still beat you
here!"
Now a small group of three, we made a few laps of the park and set off on
a bike trail with no particular place to go. I let the kids ride off
ahead and lagged back as a kind of sweeper. The trail now cut alongside a
small creek and under a low, dark bridge. In the half-light, I saw
something glitter.
" 'ware GLASS," I barked as they rode through. Shattered bottles
everywhere, and I prayed that our tires would make it through OK. I
called a general halt as soon as we were clear and inspected tires all
around. No errant shards, no punctures--we were good to go!
Now that we're properly underway, the boys decide they need a destination.
A basketball team-mate of theirs happens to live in the neighborhood, and
we double back on the street (avoiding the nasty glass) to pay him a
visit.
I ride sweeper and take a big chunk of traffic lane. The boys ride ahead
of me and to the right. A quick sprint on a moderately busy street, a
spin down the side streets and there we were at their buddy's house. The
kids knocked on the door and called their buddy out. I sat on the curb
and watched. Their friend eventually did come out to look at their bikes
and watch them do a few no-hands runs down the street. Sadly, this boy
didn't know how to ride, but invited the other two in to hang out and
watch TV.
I left the kids to their TV and scouted routes home by myself, at more
grown-up speeds. Discovered a traffic-free way back and rode back to get
the boys. Picked up my charges at the appointed hour and led them through
the route back.
The route back had a bit of a compromise, which I explained to the boys as
we started off. No traffic, but one really long hill. Babybro shot up
the hill like Marco Pantani on speed. His friend was obviously more of
a sprinter than a climber, and I stayed back with him. Nobody should get
dropped on his first proper outing, after all.
As soon as we crossed into his home neighborhood, though, our green jersey
contender picked up the pace a bit and, as he rolled up to his house,
lifted both his arms overhead as if he'd taken a sprint finish...and then
grabbed for the bars as he wobbled in front of his driveway. We all had a
good laugh and saw him off.
Babybro and I went back via sidestreets and gravel paths. "I never knew
these were back here," he remarked to me as we rode back.
"This is why we ride bicycles," I told him. "We can take the same streets
as everybody else--but there are places and ways that only bicycles can
take."
We ended up back at home in time for tea. Total mileage? Probably under
five miles, easy pedaling. But as we got back into the house, he was
smiling.
"You know what?" he said as we put our bikes away. "We just got back, but
I want to go out again!"
I promised I'd take him for an outing tomorrow.
--
Luigi de Guzman
http://ouij.livejournal.com
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Date: 17 Jul 2007 13:52:13
From: Claire Petersky
Subject: Re: First proper outing on the new bike
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"Luigi de Guzman" <luigi12081@cox.net > wrote in message
news:1FZli.35958$LE1.17195@newsfe13.lga...
> "You know what?" he said as we put our bikes away. "We just got back, but
> I want to go out again!"
You done good.
--
Warm Regards,
Claire Petersky
http://www.bicyclemeditations.org/
See the books I've set free at: http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky
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Date: 14 Jul 2007 19:01:32
From: Mike Kruger
Subject: Re: First proper outing on the new bike
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Luigi de Guzman wrote:
>
> "He'll be OK," he said, tossing his head in babybro's direction.
> "He'll be with his brother. It should be fine."
>
There is no higher compliment for an older sibling. ;)
Good story. Thanks for sharing.
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Date: 14 Jul 2007 11:48:43
From: Artemisia
Subject: Re: First proper outing on the new bike
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Luigi de Guzman wrote:
> Babybro's friend called him up today and wanted to meet at the park to go
> ride bikes.
Sweet story, Luigi. Are you a Cancerian? You have such a gentle,
pedagogical way about you. Happy Birthday if that is the case.
EFR
Ile de France
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