Today Dad.....

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TWBNK

Well-Known Member
Location
Wirral
'I am going to ride without stabilisers.'

The youngest informed me this morning that today she was going to ride without stabilisers, it has been a few months since I last ran up and down the road behind her with her wobbling, panicking and giving up fairly quickly.

So this morning she sat on her bike, pedalled away and that was that.:biggrin: I packed a picnic and we had a ride to a park two miles away and a lovely picnic.

The surprising thing though is when the next youngest went without stabilisers a few years ago he did exactly the same thing, just said in the morning that that was it, he was 'riding without stabilisers today' and he did.
 

threebikesmcginty

Corn Fed Hick...
Location
...on the slake
A wonderful moment, well done young Miss TWBNK!
 

atbman

Veteran
Are you mad? Do you not realise what you're letting yourself (and your plastic) in for?

First of all, she'll want some pink, ribbon decorated monstrosity which will offend your pure cyclist mind.

So you resign yourself to a few years of wincing whenever you go out together. Then, you'll buy her a new one for her birthday/christmas in the usual style, only to be met with a withering "I'm not a sily little girl, you know - why haven't you got me a proper bike, like Isla makes?"

Then she'll hear about Go-Ride. She'll join the local G-R club and you'll find yourself "helping". This may well involve you being conned into marshalling, number taking, signing on, etc. Then hints will be dropped by the club sec that it would be really helpful if you could help with coaching, so you find yourself taking a course - which will only be the basic level 2 one - which will, in turn, result in you taking the various discipline specific modules.

And, of course, your beloved child will turn out to be a demon all-round racer and be picked for the Regional School of Racing - and you know how Brit. Cyc just looove kids not to specialise (or Specialize), so there will be: cross bikes (2 for the pits), mtb, road, and TT bikes.

Her grandparents will move to New Zealand as being cheaper than helping out with the cost of said bikes - on her mother's side, of course, so your wife will blame you.

Etc., etc.

It's not too late to get her to take up chess.
 

mcshroom

Bionic Subsonic
atbman said:
It's not too late to get her to take up chess.

You'd be surprised how much that can cost. ;)

I'm played for England at chess (U14) and the amount of money spent on carting me (and my sister and brother) around the country, entry fees, coaching books, sets, clocks, computers etc. when I was moving towards the international squad was shocking. Oh and my Dad's now the county junior organiser as well so you get sucked in there too :laugh:

Well done Miss TWBNK! :ohmy:
 
OP
OP
TWBNK

TWBNK

Well-Known Member
Location
Wirral
atbman said:
Are you mad?

Her grandparents will move to New Zealand as being cheaper than helping out with the cost of said bikes - on her mother's side, of course, so your wife will blame you.

And that is a bad thing?
 
OP
OP
TWBNK

TWBNK

Well-Known Member
Location
Wirral
Thanks, she got her wings just before our holidays next week. If she is anything like her brother we will be cycling everywhere soon.
 
Excellent stuff TWBNK...my little girl is a little way behind being just over two but she's getting the hang of her scooter!

Next year I'll buy her a full carbon Gran Fondo from Ribble and keep it safe, by riding it, for 17 years.

:ohmy:
 
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