moosehead
Member
- Location
- South western Ontario
First time I ever tried to ride a two wheel bike was, of course, on the farm.
Mr. Jenkins said there was an old bike in the barn and I was told I could use it to learn how to hopefully go in a straight line. He also asked me...Actually told me...To TRY to not run into anything.
Well, one very early morning before chores, which had been reduced to fence painting and odd jobs that didn't involve animals or birds, out I went to the barn, got the bike and pushed it outside.
I surveyed the landscape, checking out any obstructions that would have to be avoided, that included trees, bushes, animals and, in particular, the pond, which I had visited on one occasion.....
I looked around to be sure nobody was watching....In case I fell off the bike....And, being completely alone, I pushed the bike along, got up speed and attempted to hop on. I promptly missed the bike, fell onto my face and the bike kept going and straight into a bush.
I sat up, looked around, grumbled a bit about the stupid bike, dusted myself off, adjusted my cap and then stood up. Well, at least nobody saw me....Well, other then the cow who was staring at me as she chewed away on her grass oblivious I assumed to my tumble and grumble.
So I walked over to the bike and picked it up. I got the bike rolling along and attempted the old hop on the bike....I actually jumped on it, hit the seat and flew over the other side, falling face first again.....As the bicycle rolled away straight into the newly painted fence bounced off and came to a stop just short of the pond. My luck must be changing.
Well, I thought, as I arose from my by now familiar position on the ground, I needed another approach because not only was this approach NOT working, I hadn't even gotten ONTO the bike.
I decided to give this some thought....So, I came up with a plan. That is, I would slowly push off and hop on....By gosh it worked! I was now cruising along sitting atop the bike, the master of my fate, the KING of the world! This was fun!
Wait a minute, the bike started to wobble! The more I tried to go straight the more I headed toward the tree, which I hit without once getting a chance to peddle. I stopped rather quickly. Hitting a tree will do that.
As I peeled myself from the trunk of the tree I started to think that maybe I should stick to walking...
Nuts, I said. I will not let a beat up old bike get the best of me! I would try again.
Onto the bike I got....Finally got the peddling down and was going, well, sort of in a straight line and heading for the cow. It is said that, when one is learning to ride a bike one should never ever lock on visually to anything, be it tree, mailbox, fence or particularly a cow. Dollars to donuts that is what you will hit.
Well, I said to myself, time to brake...Time to brake...The brakes didn't work....Of course...I was heading for the cow who, hearing me coming along, bouncing over the ground, yelling for the cow to move, slowly turned it's head to see me approaching.
I could see the cows eyes get wider and, as I called out for Bossy to move....It happened....Crashed into the cow with a thump.
The cow mooed, I yelled, the cow trampled over my bike, make that borrowed bike, as it ambled off glancing over it's shoulder with what appeared to be a look of resignation. I think it was cow number eight......
I lay there on the ground, looking up at the sky, admiring the fluffy, white clouds when my view of said sky was interrupted by the face of a pig who snorted at me and drooled on my face. Wonderful. What else could go wrong? Well the cow patties I landed on sort of cushioned my fall....
Once again, I sat up and looked around. The pig grunted and waddled off, sighing, I think.
I looked over where the bike was positioned. It actually didn't look too bad.. Well, other then the front wheel being bent and the seat missing.
As I dragged the bike toward the barn, I reflected on the idea of riding a bike. I mean, was it that important? I could always go ride one of the horses. I mean, what could go wrong doing that?
Mr. Jenkins said there was an old bike in the barn and I was told I could use it to learn how to hopefully go in a straight line. He also asked me...Actually told me...To TRY to not run into anything.
Well, one very early morning before chores, which had been reduced to fence painting and odd jobs that didn't involve animals or birds, out I went to the barn, got the bike and pushed it outside.
I surveyed the landscape, checking out any obstructions that would have to be avoided, that included trees, bushes, animals and, in particular, the pond, which I had visited on one occasion.....
I looked around to be sure nobody was watching....In case I fell off the bike....And, being completely alone, I pushed the bike along, got up speed and attempted to hop on. I promptly missed the bike, fell onto my face and the bike kept going and straight into a bush.
I sat up, looked around, grumbled a bit about the stupid bike, dusted myself off, adjusted my cap and then stood up. Well, at least nobody saw me....Well, other then the cow who was staring at me as she chewed away on her grass oblivious I assumed to my tumble and grumble.
So I walked over to the bike and picked it up. I got the bike rolling along and attempted the old hop on the bike....I actually jumped on it, hit the seat and flew over the other side, falling face first again.....As the bicycle rolled away straight into the newly painted fence bounced off and came to a stop just short of the pond. My luck must be changing.
Well, I thought, as I arose from my by now familiar position on the ground, I needed another approach because not only was this approach NOT working, I hadn't even gotten ONTO the bike.
I decided to give this some thought....So, I came up with a plan. That is, I would slowly push off and hop on....By gosh it worked! I was now cruising along sitting atop the bike, the master of my fate, the KING of the world! This was fun!
Wait a minute, the bike started to wobble! The more I tried to go straight the more I headed toward the tree, which I hit without once getting a chance to peddle. I stopped rather quickly. Hitting a tree will do that.
As I peeled myself from the trunk of the tree I started to think that maybe I should stick to walking...
Nuts, I said. I will not let a beat up old bike get the best of me! I would try again.
Onto the bike I got....Finally got the peddling down and was going, well, sort of in a straight line and heading for the cow. It is said that, when one is learning to ride a bike one should never ever lock on visually to anything, be it tree, mailbox, fence or particularly a cow. Dollars to donuts that is what you will hit.
Well, I said to myself, time to brake...Time to brake...The brakes didn't work....Of course...I was heading for the cow who, hearing me coming along, bouncing over the ground, yelling for the cow to move, slowly turned it's head to see me approaching.
I could see the cows eyes get wider and, as I called out for Bossy to move....It happened....Crashed into the cow with a thump.
The cow mooed, I yelled, the cow trampled over my bike, make that borrowed bike, as it ambled off glancing over it's shoulder with what appeared to be a look of resignation. I think it was cow number eight......
I lay there on the ground, looking up at the sky, admiring the fluffy, white clouds when my view of said sky was interrupted by the face of a pig who snorted at me and drooled on my face. Wonderful. What else could go wrong? Well the cow patties I landed on sort of cushioned my fall....
Once again, I sat up and looked around. The pig grunted and waddled off, sighing, I think.
I looked over where the bike was positioned. It actually didn't look too bad.. Well, other then the front wheel being bent and the seat missing.
As I dragged the bike toward the barn, I reflected on the idea of riding a bike. I mean, was it that important? I could always go ride one of the horses. I mean, what could go wrong doing that?
layful: 
