Tuesday, August 24, 2010

She Rides a Two-Wheeler

Alina has never been really interested in riding her bike. She rode her bike a little in Grand Rapids when we had a very long driveway––when her bike had training wheels. Our first house in Seattle really didn't have a place to ride. The road was busy, and the driveway was short and steep. The road around the loop is very quiet where we now reside, but Alina was more interested in running to the neighbor girl's house than riding her bike.

One Saturday in winter, when it felt like spring in Seattle, I worked with Alina a little on riding her bike without its training wheels. Alina wasn't really into it. It was all we could do to make it to the end of the street where the loop reconnects.

Living here, Sam was more into his Razor scooter than his bike. The neighbor girl also had one. It was time for Alina to have one. She quickly learned how to balance and ride fast. Lots of riding after Sam, and lots of trips to the Skateboard park with the scooters. The pink bike was ignored. But, late last week I was feeling it was time to revisit riding the bike, so yesterday we tried again. Saying Alina lacked enthusiasm is an understatement. Though we were outside for over an hour, she probably gave it six tries. Just before going in for lunch she rode the length of the street. In the afternoon, though, she climbed on and was immediately on her way. Now, she can't stop riding or talking about riding. Last night when I was talking to her before she fell asleep she was making plans for riding around Green Lake Tuesday, as well as making sure that her tires were dirt tires so that she can come to the mountain biking trails with Sam and me. She is such a princess!

Alina Learns to Ride Her Bike from Ed Ballance on Vimeo.

4 comments:

Valerie said...

Yayyyy, Alina! Lori wants you to bring your bike down here so we can all ride together!

Ed said...

We'll be there in 11 hours! Just need to load the bikes and swim suits!

missb said...

Alina, what a great job of riding your bike, I cant wait to go biking with u, will u wait 4 me if i cant keep up. love u all and talk at u later

Valerie said...

Ed...dude, we're waiting.