if I'll ride this bike forever

May in Seattle means wisteria are in bloom everywhere and ... it's National Bike Month!  Cyclists abound at this time of year.  Masses of bike commuters are lining up at street lights for Bike to Work month and groups of students are hopping on their bikes to arrive at school "alert and ready to learn."  Cascade Bicycle Club is hosting Bike to School Month with fun competitions and bike rodeos at local schools.  We participated in one at my daughter's school over the weekend and little did I know how well both of my kids would rock the obstacle course (literally) including a homemade teeter totter.  It was also a great place to discuss fitting my children to their bikes appropriately, which meant raising my daughter's seat (so her knees didn't nearly hit her ears each time she pedaled.)   The on-site volunteer mechanic filled their tires with air and we attached orange visibility flags to their rear wheels.

When I was a kid, we rode our bikes for hours around our neighborhood.  It was one my first freedoms and one of the many ways I fell in love with being outside.  The bike rodeo gave my city kids a little taste of that freedom.  It won't be long until they will want to roam on their own and I'll be teaching them the rules of street riding.  Until then, I'll sign them up for a biking camp at Pedalheads for a full morning of learning everything they need to know to be confident riders.  These camps teach newbies how to ride their two-wheelers and older riders the rules of the road including reading street signs and signaling.  If you're in Seattle and you want your child to learn to be a strong cyclist from the start, check out a Pedalheads open house:

·         Saturday, May 31, 2014 at 10:00 - Noon - Cherry Crest Elementary - Bellevue

·         Sunday, June 1, 2014 at 1:00 p.m – 3:00 p.m. - Soundview Playfield - NW Seattle
·         Saturday, June 8, 2014 at 1:00 p.m – 3:00 p.m.  - Hiawatha Park - West Seattle

My son asked me this morning if I'll ride this bike forever.  I said, no because there will be a day when I won't need to haul him and his sister around.  They will outgrow my bike and we'll all ride our own bikes.  He looked shocked and appalled at the mention of such a ridiculous idea.  That's how I feel as well.  For now, I am delighted to have the two of them aboard, yes even whilst bickering and counting dogwood trees in bloom (14 no 15!)  As I pedal them to school, I cherish these sweet moments of conversation and closeness together on two wheels.  Hopefully it will be quite a while until I need to retire my Mama bike.  If you're interested in becoming a biking family, read my new article "Seven Ways to Become a Biking Family this Spring."

Get in on the Cargo Bike action

My bike is in the shop today, so I borrowed this bucket bike and rode my daughter to school this morning.  It's a loner that is being used by my neighbor until she gets her new xtra-cycle edgerunner.   The owners are in no rush to have it back and we are delighted to use it until we get our bikes back.  I love the idea of having a loner bike that travels from family to family so everyone can get in on the cargo bike action.  This was my first time riding another cargo bike and I felt powerful and free.  It was like riding a new bike all over again.  What a fun way to feel strong, a bit awkward, and sometimes silly all at the same time!  If you are curious how I ever got into biking with my kids, feel free to read my recent article at ParentMap and get in touch with me to test ride a cargo bike!

photo by Joseph Laubach 

Here were are in a recent Kidical Mass Ride to fall colors in the Arboretum.  Check out Madi's list of all the bike types that she detailed in her post of our six mile adventure.

• regular adult bikes
• regular bikes with front seats (Bobike mini, iBert)
• regular bikes with rear seats
• regular bike with Weehoo iGo trailer bike
• regular bike with trailer
• Surly Big Dummy lontail cargo bikes
• Kona Ute longtail cargo bike
• Cargo Joe folding longtail cargo bike
• Yuba Boda Boda midtail cargo bike
• Madsen bucket bike
• Bilenky Viewpoint tandem with just one parent this time and kid in rear seat
• four kids on their own bikes

Bike minded

Mama is in the backyard packing our bike with sleeping bags, pads and the tent.  She's using all of our bungee chords.  She says we're going to an island and we can each bring one toy.  I'm bringing polar bear and I'm tying him on with a leash so he doesn't fall off.  Papa can't come, he has to work on the weekends, but there will be other kids and families.  It's the first time we are going camping by bike.

-big sister

 



 

Can you take our picture?  Wait, let me do a test ride.  I'm not sure I can even ride it, with such a big load.  I'm really nervous.  What if I'm last and I can't get up the hills?  My lungs are so tight today, my asthma is really acting up.  Will I make friends?  I feel like I might throw up, but it's a beautiful day and I'm really excited to try this ride. 

-mama

 

photo by Amy

 



photo by Malora

 





family ride

family ride

 

Wow what a loud horn on the big boat!  A ferry!  Uh oh, Mama almost hit that car trying to put the big lock on our bike.  Now its alarm is going off.  Ita had to help push the bike up the ramp, it's soooo heavy.  Mama said, "Stay close and do not go near the edge."  I have Sealy, I want more snacks, I tired, and I have to go pee pee.

-little brother

 



 

I'll take some pictures with Mama's phone, this marina and restaurant are so pretty.  We at the bottom of  a big hill.  Mama's got a lot of riding to do!  She wants me to eat more.  My brother needs a nap.   Mama said I have to drink more water. 

-big sister

 





Alright!  We are on the road.  Hmmm . . . the group is really far ahead and I am last.  Will they look back?  Will they wait for me?  This is my last chance to turn down toward the ferry and go home.

I caught up to the group, we're all together, so far the hills are do able.  I can see the city skyline from across the sparkling blue water.  I think the endorphins are affecting my perception, because that has got to be one of the most beautiful views of Seattle I have ever seen.  I feel great.  Oh no, now I don't.  This hill hurts.  I'm gonna vomit.   I've got to get off the bike.  "Alita, jump off.  Help me push."  Okay, I can ride again.  Oh no, now I can't.  Repeat.

"Do you want me to take one of your kids on my bike?" asks one of the Dads.  "She can ride back there behind my son."  Yes please, and thank you.  54 lbs. lighter makes quite a bit of difference.

-mama

family ride

 

 

We made it!  From our house to campsite and back by Mama power only (and a little help from some friends.)  I was fearful that I might fail and look stupid or incapable.  My sense of empowerment that I could do the ride with help from a group was delightful.  Each time the hills became too steep, there was pain, but at the summit there was immediate relief.  On the downhill, we rode so fast and swift that I felt like a child going fast on my bike for the very first time.  As my son napped on the front of the bike, his face resting on a pile of soft pads, I used a homemade sling to keep his helmet and head from flopping over onto my handle bars.  My new invention worked!  I was thankful for the conversation with a mom who rode slowly with me.  As I looked up at the line of riders ahead, I felt content within a pack of support. 

 

I loved unloading my bike, setting up camp and knowing that everything we needed was with us.  We were warm, comfortable, well fed, slept soundly, and had made new friends.  The next day we went home and made many stops on the way: cafe's, a blueberry farm, ice cream, and a ferry ride.   I was blissfully tired as we rode toward our home at sunset along a trail that follows the Puget Sound.  We passed some of my favorite graffiti, bike minded is how I would describe my sentiments perfectly.

 

"41 miles with 12 families, consisting of 19 adults and 19 kids on 19 bikes."
If you want to see more pictures, Madi over at Family Ride wrote a wonderful post about the trip and made a flickr slide show.  Some of my favorite images are over there of Julie riding her Madsen at eight months pregnant and a camp stove that can charge an iphone, wha!?  Meanwhile, I'm packing up to do it again this week with my husband.  I'm cuckoo for bike camping!

Folklife

 

 

 

 

 

When going to one of the biggest free mulit-cultural arts festival in the nation these are helpful questions to ask oneself:

• Which rare indulgance shall I have while listening to live music?
• What do I hold onto while napping?
• Which colors do I add to my art?
• Shall we build just one toy or two?
• Which one of these handmade things looks better on me?
• Wonder to yourself is it raining or just the fountain spray?
• Which one of these bikes does not look like the others?

She held on tight

While we were riding to school this morning her hands were cold, so she reached under my coat between my layers and wrapped her arms around me.  As her little brother was yelling from his front seat, "No brakes Mama!  Only faster!", she held on tight.  Her head was resting on my back as it used to when she was in the ergo.  Then she said, "I want to ride my bike next time we go."  I thought, "Please no, not yet, stay right back there holding on to me a little bit longer."  Her brother's right.  The years have no brakes, only faster.

Hoping she'd remember forever

It's a dreamy piece in homage to the day she learned to ride.  That night she didn't want to go to sleep because she was afraid she would forget how.  When she awoke the next morning she said she rode all night . . . hoping she'd remember forever. 

It's funny how the practice of blogging is working for me.  Here we have an abandoned piece of art that lie dormant for months, until this morning.  I wanted to post a painting for today's post, which meant I had to paint.  I looked at what I had cast aside and decided to take on the challenge of trying to make it look as I see it in my mind.  It's not there yet, it's till in process, it's getting there.  However, I feel safe enough to be vulnerable here, make mistakes, throw caution to the wind, write a poem, work on a project that feels frustrating and be held accountable because I know some of you are reading.  It's not just my Mom and my sister!  All of this would never have been possible a few months ago.  On a chilly day just like today when it's 46 degrees and cloudy, I would not have had any reason to keep trying.  Thank you for being there reading.