Family Bike Ride

After our son’s recognition ceremony the other day, we celebrated by going for a family bike ride.

Last fall, after Kai finally learned to ride a bike, we rode together several times. But once we stopped over the winter, biking slipped our mind and we did not get back to it until Wednesday.

This time, we decided to try a new trail, along a forest preserve not too far from our house.

I took the lead, while Kai was supposed to ride behind me, with my wife in back of him. But Kai was tentative, as his anxiety about riding had returned. He still remembered how to ride, but he pedaled about as slowly as you can while still moving.

I hardly pedaled at all except for places when we went uphill. Still, Kai trailed far behind me.

When I stopped to wait, he yelled at me to keep pedaling. And if I kept waiting, his yells would reach a panic pitch, as if he were afraid he was going to crash into me despite the fact that I always seemed to be about 30 yards ahead of him.

Still, I was pleased that he didn’t ask to turn back or go home. All too often, our attempts at activities like this end early with Kai quitting, me getting frustrated, and all having a bad time.

On this occasion, the weather was perfect for biking, and as we biked along we enjoyed the scenic path.

The path had mile markers along the way, and perhaps that helped motivate him to keep going.

The loop we made was 4.4 miles. That is not far, but it was the farthest and longest we had biked together.

And when we finished, we celebrated with ice cream and a popsicle.



It could not have been a nicer day all around.