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Monday, January 26, 2009

cold play

It's twelve degrees outside. Fahrenheit. I'm not complaining, really, I'm not. Especially to my friends in the midwest to whom 12 degrees would be downright balmy right now.

Actually, it feels good. It feels right. Those temperatures in the 60's last week were pleasant but a little weird. It's just not right to be out and about in capris and short sleeves in January in Colorado.

So I'm taking advantage today. Firstly, I'm taking my bicycle to the shop for some much needed TLC. They can keep it ALL day, because I won't be riding it anywhere. I'm thinking I should really educate myself further in bicycle maintenance. I can do a few basic things, and usually am immensely proud of myself when I actually improve one of the family bicycles rather than making whatever problem worse. But really, how hard can it be?

One of Chaco's friends came over to show off his new bike the other day. He'd gotten the frame off of craigslist, mustered up a bunch of parts from here and there, and put the whole thing together himself. He's a good kid. Has a nice mama.

Another of Chaco's friends came over last week. He got a new bicycle for Christmas. It's his first bicycle. His FIRST bicycle!?!?! The kid is 15 years old!!

That's child abuse as far as I'm concerned.
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7 comments:

brandy101 said...

I read somewhere that bike riding (as well as roller skating) has declined immensely among children since we were kids.

But 15?! Wow.

I have to say, even though I am a mega safety-oriented person, that my #1 peeve is having to wear a helmet. I make my daughter wear one but I dont anymore unless I know I will be riding in traffic.

Plus, then I am wandering the store dragging the helmet along.

I should get over it and get a newer helmet this spring, and some cool baseball hats to take along and pop on my sweaty brow after I take the helmet off, I guess...

Duble said...

When I was a wee lad up through being not a wee lad, I rode my bike everywhere. As much as it might be child abuse isn't it mind numblingly painful for the parents too.

Or perhaps kids don't ride bike places anymore who knows. I know if i gota kid that wants to go some where and the steelers are on, they had better take teh bike, or need to go to emergency room.

terri said...

I lived on my bike and went through a series of them from the time I was 5 through high school.

We live in a high traffic area. The bike paths are fairly recent. The kids couldn't really safely ride their bikes very far. Now when they hit 15 they stop riding bikes because they're learning to drive.

agg79 said...

All I had was an old hand-me-down bike with the banana seat and extended handlebars. My brother's 3 speed was a luxury. With bikes and rollerblades and boards, kids have a lot more options today than we did. Of course, that assumes they are not driving by the time they are 15.

Judy said...

I'd go crazy if my boys didn't have their bikes.

We're not too far off from you guys temperature-wise today...it is 41 right now and steadily dropping...we're actually under a WINTER WEATHER WARNING. That's like winning the lottery for weather freaks here - it RARELY happens!

Goes by the name of Anna said...

My my, but that is cold...

If it makes you feel any better, it was 43 degrees celcius here today (internet tells me that that's about 109 F), and it's going to stay that hot for the rest of the week. I think I'd take your cold over weather so hot that the road starts melting...

Whimsical Ranter said...

Neither of my boys can ride a bike but they were both given one at least once during their lives....I'm fairly sure.

Okay, I'm not sure Fredo ever had a bike really of his own. The kid refused to ride a trike, I guess I just felt buying him a bike was kinda a waste of money. But how exactly do you force a kid to do something they truly have no interest in doing? Seriously I think at least Fredo should know how to ride a bike...but I'm stumped on how to get him to do it.