Two weeks ago I took the pedals off of D6's bicycle. She loved riding it like it was a scooter. As a matter of fact, her mom and I were concerned that she liked it too much and would not want me to put the pedals back on. The neighborhood kids saw what we were doing and thought we were nuts!
Dave, she went from having to be dragged kicking and screaming to "work" on learning how to ride without training wheels to dragging us outside two or three times a day so she could ride the bike without the pedals.
Then Friday, I decided that she was as good as she was going to get at balancing herself by pushing off with her feet. I asked her if she wanted me to put the pedals back on her bike. She said OK. Today I put the pedals on and called her out. I held the bike up while she got on, but other than that I did not hold her up at all. Then she pushed off with her feet and got a decent speed before she started pedaling. She wobbled her way onto the grass, but she put her bike back on the sidewalk and tried it again. This time she got half way down the street before she lost her balance. I was following on foot with her 12 year old sister, whom I told "You'd better get your own bike if you want to keep up." D6 rode to the end of the street and turned around bearing the biggest s**t-eating grin her little face could contain. I'm sure I had the same grin.
Her sister and I followed her on foot as she pedaled her way around the block. Then I got on my own bike to ride with her when she went around the block again. After dinner, it started raining and she cried because she couldn't go out again.
So, thanks for your advice. I have only two questions: where are the pedals on my wife and how do I remove them?
SM
"If we will be quiet and ready enough, we shall find compensation in every disappointment." Henry David Thoreau
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