The magic of bikes
The rides have changed, but the feeling remains
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Now for Friday’s story. ~JRC
Approx. 1000 words; 5 minutes read time
Virtually everyone on Earth has been on a bike at some time or another. Since its invention in the 1800s, the bicycle has captured people's attention. Young, old, rich, and poor - people ride bikes.
The first bicycles were pretty daunting with their large front wheels and questionable builds. And they were expensive. To many, the early nineteenth-century bicycle was a costly death trap, one better left to fools with disposable income. None-the-less, bikes rose in popularity. And with the development of safer and less expensive rides, people soon had access to them around the world.
The modern bicycle had arrived, and everyone wanted one.
As with many technologies, the bicycle's popularity has ebbed and flowed over the decades. The rise of the automobile at the turn of the 20th century stymied bicycle fashionableness in the US. "Modern" Americans viewed bikes as kids toys, not a primary means of travel. But in Europe and many parts of Asia, where cars were less ubiquitous, bicycle use continued to rise.
Wartime shortages spawned a resurgence of bike-use everywhere, including America. Other forms of transportation became resource limiting; metal was in short supply. Bikes were again a ready source of economical transportation.
Materials to build bicycles were far less costly than an automobile. And best of all, they needed no fuel, unlike cars, busses, and trains. Even military units utilized bikes during both world wars, as a result.
Now well into the 21st century, bikes are back and in a big way. Recreation and transportation, bikes are everywhere. We are even redesigning whole cities to accommodate bikes better. Dedicated bicycle lanes are popping up everywhere. And commuting to work via pedal-power is a badge of honor, not a sign of poverty.
New bikes have changed dramatically too. They come in all shapes and sizes and are about as futuristic as any technology; materials used in their design and manufacture are industry-leading. Modern bikes often rival automobile design, with their carbon fiber frames and ultralight, alloy components.
Despite all these advances, the humble bicycle remains as recognizable today as it was two centuries ago.
For a kid, learning to ride a bike is the first true taste of freedom.
I learned when I was about 6. Starting like many do - with training wheels - I soon found it was not all that hard. On level ground, I could climb up on my ride and start pedaling. The bike stood there like a trusty steed, waiting for my command to gallop off.
My parent's driveway where I learned was long and flat, so I had a lot of space to practice in those days. I gained strength and muscle memory to turn the pedals, and, battling the rough gravel, I earned a bit of control too. Soon, it was time to give it a go without the training wheels.
The day is planted solidly in my mind. I recall that my dad and mom were there, and I believe my papaw was also. My older brother was there too, riding up and down the driveway on his bike, a 20" BMX-style ride.
My memory of that day is undoubtedly a hybrid between the real and imagined. Actual events are peppered with TV clips, movie plots, and fantasies. All stitched together with childhood heroes. Like the Lone Ranger's horse, and Evel Knievel's motorbike, I had my ride - a pearlescent blue Schwinn.
The audience assembled was a lot of pressure for a kid my age. I remember vividly everyone saying the old clichés – "it's just like riding a bike." "Once you learn, you'll never forget." "It's easy once you get the hang of it."
None of this helped, of course. I was six, and everything was hard – even if it was the most natural thing any of us would ever learn.
Dad helped me on the bike, and he hung on to the back of the seat, balancing and pushing me at first. As we picked up speed, I began to have second thoughts and begged him not to let go. He didn't listen and gave me one last push before setting me free to fulfill my human birthright – to ride a bicycle!
That first ride lasted all of about three seconds. I pedaled like I had before with the training wheels. But balancing too was now my job. In a panic, I stalled and crashed. The gravel was as harsh as I had feared, and I lay there in a pile, with my little blue bike, bleeding from the knee. Tears welled up in me, and I began to cry.
I was barely hurt. But the thought of the crash and my apparent failure as a rider were both too much to bear. And despite some consoling from Mom and encouragement from Pop and Papaw, I refused to get back on. Freedom would have to wait another day.
The events that led to my success on two wheels are less vivid than that first attempt. But I soon mastered the art and became as fond of riding as anyone. When I climb on a bicycle even today, I still feel that sense of freedom and call of adventure I did all those years ago.
Today is my son's eighth birthday. And we bought him a new bike, his third already. The kid is growing fast in both size and skill. So it’s time again to shell out for some bigger wheels. I can't wait to see his eyes light up.
Bicycles are an amazing technology. They changed the world - and us. Bikes are pure magic.
Until next time. Science. Fiction. Create.
JRC
First times are memorable. I remember that first ride with training wheels, and the first ride without...but not much else about the hundreds of other early rides except the glorious sense of freedom.
Your story is a wonderful metaphor for many of life’s firsts. 😊