We Have Wheels and Know How To Use Them

Eli has turned into a bike riding maniac.  He absolutely LOVES riding bikes.  Don't confuse that with moving past Hot Wheels and trains, he continues to be addicted to those, however, his new passion is playing outside and riding around the block on two (OK, four really) wheels.  We are currently borrowing our friend's daughter's pink princess bike until we can get a more manly set of wheels for our little man. 

He has been riding now a total of 4 times.  His first attempt was very tiring for me.  I was walking with him, pushing those little legs up and down trying to teach him how to use the pedals.  With his trike, he never, NEVER, used the pedals.  I don't know if it was that he just couldn't figure it out or didn't see the necessity in it.  Either way, he couldn't use his feet to move him along with the bike.  Soooo....that was my job.  Unlike pedals on a trike, with this bike, if you push your feet backward, that's your brakes and you quickly come to a halt.  He had fun riding (ahem, having Mom pedal & steer) around the block.

Time two was much more productive.  I didn't have to show his feet what to do, however keeping the flow going was the real problem.  He'd get the pedals around, or mostly around, then get stuck.  If he didn't get stuck, he would slam on the brakes and then was surely stuck.  He kept practicing and started getting a little better but was still very stop and go.

Now, time three on the bike was phenomenal.    Not only did he figure out how to pedal, he was riding through the neighborhood zipping right along.  He mastered pedaling and turning.  Our neighbors were out with us while he was riding around and their little guy got his trike out and for the first time he also used the pedals.  Having is big "go-bro" around to show him the ropes, he mastered that trick as well.  It was a very successful week here in Maple Valley!

Which brings us to today's episode.  You may have already seen the video in my previous post.  He was riding along when he got high centered.  The training wheels were holding the back tire off the ground and of course, in a puddle.  He was spinning and spinning while that tire was continuing to splash water behind him.  He was laughing.  I was laughing.  It was great, what a moment!  (And if you haven't watched the video, Eli has the greatest smile when he turns and laughs at the camera - you can't actually hear his laugh, but the smile is enough to make you giggle anyway - you'll want to check that one out)

Tomorrow Eli will get his new set of wheels, courtesy of Grandma and Papa.  Can't wait for the new one, he will be so excited to have his own bike that he can really call his own.