"... If you live" is the key phrase, people.That Mark Twain quote is from a piece called "Taming the Bicycle," and that's exactly what I've been doing over the last few weeks: attempting to tame a bicycle (specifically a Mongoose).
You see, up until now, I had never ridden a bike without using training wheels, which, according to an avid biker who can tackle hills, is not the same as biking at all.
After more than a decade-long gap, I've given bike riding another go with a special teacher (said avid biker) -- this time sans training wheels. I've definitely realized from firsthand experience that training wheels are just a crutch to lean (or roll) on. There's a lot of balancing on two wheels that needs to happen to make it successful.
Learning to ride a bike is hard work, and it can be so frustrating, nerve-wracking, and scary when you're just starting out. However, once you get the hang of it, it can be exhilarating to travel at a pace faster than you can travel by foot -- believe me, I know.
It can also be quite painful, as I learned the hard way Friday when I fell down not far from my end destination. With scrapes, scratches, bruises and a sore knee that is currently giving me a slight limp, I'm definitely going to take it easy and take a break for now.
However, I'm still alive and have not yet regretted trying to tame a bike. The bike sure isn't going to tame me.
(Photo by wvs)
(More bicycling quotes from Quote Garden)
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