My old jalopy... taught my daughter how to cycle!

[Batgirl]

So thrilled, never thought it would happen as she gave up as a child and struggled with confidence - but my 16 year old - after 2 sessions - has learned to ride my old jalopy 'fruit salad' bike! We took the pedals off this time and hubby headed out with her (I kept our younger two very able cyclists at home) and this is the result!

She loves the gym and running so hoping to add cycling to her list of activities. Means we can all go cycling together now! and yes we'll be shopping for another bike I'm sure! lol

 

[Mrs M]

Well done Miss Batgirl, enjoy

 

[Batgirl]

So thrilled for her as last week when she tried she was so close but just couldn't get there. She was saying lots of negative things about nerves, not being a natural rider etc at the end too so wasn't sure she'd try again.

 

[raleighnut]

 

[Ihatehills]

Lol @ fruit salad bike, and congrats to batgirl jnr if she likes running then she'll love cycling as its better :-)

 

[Batgirl]

Thanks both I'm sure she will too! I just had a hard time convincing her as a child .

Fruit salad has a thread on here from last year. I am a newbie rider who did her up enough to get myself going - I bought a newer bike about 10 days ago and was thinking of stripping her down and keeping her tyres (bought new last year and decent). Will need to buy my daughter a bike of her own if she takes to it.

 

[leedsmick]

My daughter is 9. She had her own little bike but wanted one with gears to come riding with me and the wife. We were given an old 15 speed MTB last weekend and I cleaned it up, oiled, pumped up tyres and adjusted the seat and she went out in it with me. She managed 7 miles last night but was still moaning as she couldn't get the hang of the gears, she also hates small inclines. We are hoping we can keep encouraging her enough for her to keep it up as she wants a new bike for Christmas so the old bike is an experiment really. I'm not sure which way it will go.

 

[Batgirl]

My daughter is 9. She had her own little bike but wanted one with gears to come riding with me and the wife. We were given an old 15 speed MTB last weekend and I cleaned it up, oiled, pumped up tyres and adjusted the seat and she went out in it with me. She managed 7 miles last night but was still moaning as she couldn't get the hang of the gears, she also hates small inclines. We are hoping we can keep encouraging her enough for her to keep it up as she wants a new bike for Christmas so the old bike is an experiment really. I'm not sure which way it will go.

Grr typed a long message and lost it.

Hope you can keep her interested - our 10 year old learned to cycle her bmx from xmas this year, she's had a busy summer but it's little and often as we have a 5 year old on a bike with stabilisers. So we're not all able to go for miles yet. I'm thinking of trying to up the distance my 10 year old does as she does well with inclines and stands up now too (more than I can). We're lucky to have a cycle track near by with sea view and a café we met at today (as 10 year old and I went further than hubby and 5 year old).

Maybe try mixing up your routes with your daughter so it's shorter and add in a picnic break or café stop? keep her motivated. lol

 

[Diggs]

I remember when that bike first made it's CC appearance! Good to see it's still being used!

 

[Yazzoo]

my son (now 7) wasn't particularly motivated to learn to ride as a youngster but was much keener to go for a ride if there was a purpose to the journey (visit friends, ice cream, picnic etc). Now he enjoys going for a ride for the sake of it and insists we strava them so other people can give him kudos!

Well done batgirl jnr for sticking with it!

 

[Ganymede]

I remember when that bike first made it's CC appearance! Good to see it's still being used!

Me too!

 

[Batgirl]

I must admit I thought fruit salad's service was over with.. but think she'll be around for a while longer till we see if batgirl jnr keeps up her interest, we were talking earlier about next weekend taking fruit salad and my new to me bike for a spin with middle daughter without youngest.

 

[Gravity Aided]

It's my theory that a bicycle has an infinite service life. Even when I'm done with one, I just set it out front of the driveway, and a new owner comes and gets it.

 

[Batgirl]

Great idea!

 

[Batgirl]

She's cycled again and really getting the hang of it, including a private road with railings and walls either side of it - so the feeling of being narrow.
So proud of her, she really had negative thoughts about not being a natural and never getting it. Just goes to show with persistence it can happen.