Dispatches from Madtown: Bike crazy

Memorial Day weekend, Owen learned to ride his bike without his training wheels (the Hendicks' were visiting at the time and Katrina captured his very first 2 wheeled pedals on video. I will try to post the video soon). He picked it up pretty quickly and while he liked riding his bike before, he really LOVES riding his bike now. We have a small little loop that goes around the parking lot outside our house and he rides around and around and around pretty much whenever and for as long as we let him. He also recently checked out a book from the library called "Lance in France" and we have been reading it over and over again. Now he is joining Ken to watch bike races on versus and is eagerly awaiting the Tour de France. He has even started doing "tricks" on his bike - taking his feet off the pedals while he is riding. I'm getting a little nervous already and I've told Ken that he better not start encouraging him to ride on curbs or show him "hucking" videos online. I don't want Owen getting any crazy ideas.

Those of you who have been to our apartment know that we live at the top of a pretty big hill. Last week we went to pick up our first CSA share of the summer in the neighborhood just at the bottom of the hill. On the way home, as we rode up this very big hill, Owen stopped only once to rest. I was pretty amazed because this hill is not easy on the bike I was riding which had bigger tires and at least a few gears. Just before he got to the crest of the hill and was riding the steepest part he shouted out as he was pedaling "I'm. Not. Giving. Up. At. All!" And sure enough, he pedaled right over the top.

Since Owen has mastered riding without his training wheels on his 12 inch bike, Ken decided it was time to get him a new bike. Last week he came home from work at REI with a new 16 inch bike for Owen. Just what we need at our house - another bike. And Owen has already picked up Ken's insistence on keeping his bike in the house so it doesn't get wet, etc. at night. So now we have at least 3 bikes in our entry-way/living room at all times.