This has definitely been the summer of bikes. Thanks to Mark, the last six months have been full of riding bikes, fixing bikes, buying bikes, selling bikes, switching all manner of bike parts from old to new or from one bike to another, talking about bikes, reading about bikes, finding places to ride the bikes, uncountable amounts of packages delivered at our door full of bike parts, helping friends, family and neighbors with their bikes, and pretty much setting up a bike shop in our garage. It has been really quite fun and I never knew I could be so interested in bikes. Thanks for the education and the fabulous bikes and rides Mark!
Mark took the pedals and training wheels off of Brian's bike so Brian could keep up with Timmy on the Strider. It has been perfect. These two have been striding around on their balance bikes all summer and loving it. Next Spring we'll let Brian try his bike with pedals and just nix the training wheels all together. Those training wheels are completely over rated. Both kids are balance pros now.
They have also enjoyed riding around in the bike trailer, but this has recently become a thing of the past, because Mark just upgraded us to. . .
. . .this bad boy! Today we took a good two hour ride (with stopping for dinner in the middle) and the kids still wanted more. They LOVE it and Brian was a little machine, pedaling so hard and especially helping me up the hills when I was the one pulling.
After buying and selling and buying a bike for himself, and fixing up and selling and buying a bike for me, we have ended up with a Specialized Epic Disc for Mark and a Specialized Rockhopper Expert for me (pictured pulling the kids above a few pictures.) Mark and I count ourselves lucky because we have the same leg length and we can easily switch bikes when needed with no adjustments necessary.
Mark and our supermen-biker-brothers-in-law, Brian and Dave, have been mountain biking all summer long including many late night rides up Millcreek Canyon.
I only went on two mountain rides without the kids, but it was enough to make me want more. Hopefully we see many more bike rides in the future.
4 comments:
That is great! We are not big into biking, but we have had a balance bike for our kids when they start out. Those are so great! We'll never do training wheels!
Is this your new future?
http://bikeportland.org/2012/06/28/with-six-kids-and-no-car-this-mom-does-it-all-by-bike-73731
Faith - seriously, I wish I knew about the balance bikes when Brian was 2 years old. They are genius.
Margaret - That is pretty sweet! Six kids? I happened on to this bike the other day and I totally thought of you when I saw it. You could carry lots of groceries in this thing! I want one.
http://www.madsencycles.com/bikes/gallery/blue-bucket.php
Ha! the triple-seater is awesome! (Good job, Mark!) I WANT IT!!!! I'm impressed with your mountain biking, Jenny. I went once when I was in college and it scared me to death. You are brave.
Fantastic pictures. . .
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