Many of you probably remember my post a year ago, when Middle Child finally learned how to ride a bike. There was a little bit of fear, on her part and mine, that when summer finally rolled around again, she would have lost the skill. Turns out, it really is just like riding a bike! She got on and was ready to roll again.
We have been biking various portions of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park towpath. This path runs between the Cuyahoga River and the Ohio/Erie Canal. Some of the path is gravel, some is paved, and some is a boardwalk, like this:
We have been biking various portions of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park towpath. This path runs between the Cuyahoga River and the Ohio/Erie Canal. Some of the path is gravel, some is paved, and some is a boardwalk, like this:
All in all, the towpath runs through four counties and is 85 miles in length, with 49 trailheads.
In the past, I've only walked on the towpath, but since Middle Child learned to bike, I decided to take up biking with her. I had been using my older daughter's 10 speed that is more than 10 years old. It's one of those bikes with a very narrow seat. For those like me without much junk in the trunk, it is sheer torture. Middle Child does not have much stamina, but I was ready to turn around before she was on most of our bike rides. Once I told some of my friends that I was biking on the towpath, they wanted me to bike with them. I kept telling them that I didn't think I could stand to ride more than five miles on that bike. Last week, I decided to just take Middle Child's cruiser bike and raise the seat. It worked great! I biked 15 miles with a friend and she took the above picture on our outing. I couldn't believe how much fun I had. Who knew biking was so much fun (besides Craig??)
I decided over the weekend to just buy myself a new bike. Here is my new bike, with the old one in the background:
Are you laughing at me? Yes, it's a bike for a kid. Yes, the color is a bit bright. Middle Child's bike is similar to this, in a bright orange. Yesterday, we rode bikes and stopped at one of the trailheads that has a conservancy store that sells ice cream, snacks and drinks. Our bikes were parked out front and when we came out, a couple was admiring our bikes, calling them "fun rides." I said, "Thank you very much!"
When I ride, I'm not sure if I should be humming the 'Low Rider' tune or the music from this:
Well, see, you need a pair of them fancy Lycra cycling shorts, with the chamois in the, uh, crotch. You'd be amazed how much they change the whole, uh, feel of the cycling experience. . .
ReplyDeleteBut hey - good for you, for getting out on the trail. And that sky-blue bike is just, you know, WAY artsy. . . ;)
Craig! Glad you were my first commenter! See you out on the road!
DeleteYAY you!! For quite awhile I've been considering a bike to go on rides with my husband. I have plenty of junk in the trunk, but I would so get one like you have now.... only in purple! :)
ReplyDeleteGlad your daughter is still riding!
It is so comfy on the rear end and no hunching over! I would have chosen purple if they had had it! Choices were orange, sky blue or lime green.
DeleteOMG...you had me LAUGHING all through this post!
ReplyDeleteAnd no, I didn't laugh about your new bike because I didn't even notice that it was kids bike. And can I just tell you? I LOVE it! Love the color! It looks like such a HAPPY bike! Congratulations!
"It's one of those bikes with a very narrow seat. For those like me without much junk in the trunk, it is sheer torture. "
Bwhahahahhahaha! You are so right about that. Those narrow seats feel like you're wearing a THONG!
LOVED that last photo of Miss Gulch. What a clever finish!
X
P.S. "Turns out, it really is just like riding a bike! She got on and was ready to roll again."
DeleteThat's AWESOME!
Isn't it a really happy looking bike?? I will never understand how people can stand those tiny seats!
DeleteThank you so much! I'm still proud of her! And I follow the icanshine facebook page and every day, someone somewhere in the USA learns to ride! Very positive site!
Very Jealous. Love to bike. There are NO paths here.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised as I thought those lake resort towns always have bike paths. (I'm kidding)
DeleteLOLOLOL. okay it does look a little kid-like, but if you are happy with it, then everyone else be darned!
ReplyDeleteloved the photo at the bottom and look at you and your 15 miles. EXCELLENT.
My husband went with me to get the bike and he claimed the sky blue was not as kid-like as the lime green. I always crack up at Miss Gulch.
DeleteI love your new bike, Bijoux! Ride it in good health! And that towpath looks fabulous!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rob! It's a fabulous place to ride.
DeleteSo great that you have someone to bike with and that you are now sporting the fun blue! With the 85 miles, you sure have plenty of options.
ReplyDeleteWe have been working with our little girl in trying to shed the training wheels, but no luck yet. Older boy is a good rider, but does not have much of an interest these days.
My other two kids never were that interested in biking, although my son wore through a lot of Razor scooter wheels, back in the day.
DeleteGreat looking bike and what a wonderful hobby to be able to with your daughter! Lots of good exercise and times together; it is nice too that you have a lot of nice areas to ride around too. Enjoy!
ReplyDeletebetty
We do have a lot of bike paths here, although you can only use them for about six months of the year. I'm happy she thinks it's fun.
DeleteSounds like you're really enjoying the cycling. And yes, lucky you having such great cycle routes nearby. I haven't cycled for decades. I'd like to take it up again but (1) I have nowhere to store a bike (2) my knees are a bit twingy and cycling might aggravate that and (3) Jenny insists cycling in Belfast is too dangerous - not enough dedicated cycling lanes.
ReplyDeleteI like your sky blue bike. Without much junk in the trunk? Never heard that one before. I like it!
Maybe we Americans believe a myth that everyone bikes everywhere in Europe? I was under the impression you had cycle lanes in all major cities. It's certainly not the case here, though may be true in Portland and Seattle.
DeleteI think it does tax the knees a bit. Junk in the trunk got popular a few years ago when people like J.Lo and Kim Kardashian were popular.
Most of the cycle lanes in Belfast are just strips on the side of main roads, which are still dangerous. Which is one reason most people prefer to drive rather than cycling. Cycling is still seen as a bit eccentric!
DeleteI LOVE that bike. So cute! I'm 5'2" so a teen's bike would probably be the perfec size for me. I tried riding a bike about 10 years ago and found it wasn't "like riding a bike." I never did get comfortable on it. I was afraid the whole time I'd fall over!
ReplyDeleteYou are my daughter's size and her bike is a 24 inch. She just has the seat all the way down. I bet you would be fine after a few spins in a parking lot!
Deletedid it come with training wheels???
ReplyDelete....also what is a trailhead???
Ok, Smartypants, no training wheels included!
DeleteA trailhead is just a break in the trail, where parking is provided, and people can start or end their hike. What do you call that?
I don't think we have a specific word for it - the parking area on the side of a major road we call a 'rest area'.
ReplyDeleteRest areas here always have restrooms.
DeleteHahaha! I love it! It is a fun bike. Perfect!
ReplyDeleteIt really does need a basket though. ;)
It actually did come with a basket! I had my husband take it off because that was just too much for me!
DeleteI LOVE your bike! I think I could get into biking if I had something that fun to ride! That is so cute. I am really not a biker but I think it is more for lack of trying more than anything else.
ReplyDeleteThanks! It is fun, but you need to find safe places to ride. I won't ride along the road because we don't have bike lanes here.
DeleteI think that's a great looking bike. Mine has the wide, comfy seat on it , too - they are essential! I love the tow path you have to ride on. Is it one of those rails-to-trails things?
ReplyDeleteNo, it was originally the path the mules traveled, towing canal boats. However, there is a scenic RR that runs along part of the path and they have Bike and Board where you can ride train one-way with your bike.
DeleteLol. I love the look of your new bike. One of my favorite colors is a nice soft blue.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you and your daughter are having such fun biking.
Thanks for visiting!
DeleteI'm not laughing! What a cool bike! And at least you are exercising, unlike me.
ReplyDeleteI have become a fitness freak in the last few years. The big birthday can do that to a person.
DeleteYour post is very timely! Tara and I are both looking for new bikes right now. The one I have currently is 10+ years old and a mountain bike. Which is fine, except I never go mountain biking - I need something for everyday use on the streets. And hers was cheap and not very comfortable. Fortunately, we live in Bike City USA...I'm sure we'll be able to find something perfect in no time!
ReplyDeleteMine was $99 at The store-that-shall-remain-nameless.
DeleteI love to bike! For exercise I have an old cruiser bike! It's black with the name "Desperado" on the side. Fits pretty well :-)
ReplyDeleteI love it!
Deletenice ride
ReplyDeleteMerci!
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