Tag Archives: bike

Latta Plantation

Tom and I have signed up for another triathlon.  This time, we are both doing the sprint triathlon at Latta Plantation on June 15th.  Today we decided to drive the thirty minutes up to the park so that we could bike ride the seventeen mile bike route.  Tom likes to preview part of the course.  I never really put much value on it, but I am glad that I did it today.

I realized one very important fact:  I need to train more.  I haven’t done much training since the last triathlon in April.  This bike route was much more hilly than the last one near the beach.  I am glad that I now know what I am up against.  I have three more weeks to get in better shape.

Doug and his kids came with us up to Latta Planation this morning.  Latta has a lake, a nature center, a Raptor Center, hiking trails, and an equestrian center.  While Tom did the bike route first, Doug and I took care of the kids.  We went on a hike, ate a snack and played in the nature center.  Tom finished his biking and then it was my turn.

Tom decided to be me trainer and follow me around in the car while I rode my bike.  It was a little awkward at first, but I kind of liked the company.  An hour on a bike by myself can get a little boring.

After all of the bike riding, we took the kids up to see the horses and get them a pony ride.  Faith and Wilson each got three laps on a pony named Lucy.  Wilson had never been on a pony and Faith had done it once before at the zoo.  Both were very excited.

Here they both are with Lucy and Nate, the cowboy.

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This picture made me laugh because instead of saying “cheese”, Faith told Wilson to say, “pony”….which she said.  Wilson decided he would say, “Angry Birds!” because he had on an Angry Birds helmet.  Faith was not pleased with this, as you can tell by her expression.

 

 

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Wilson on the pony…

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We really had a great day together.

bike week

Here in the South, specifically Myrtle Beach, there are two bike weeks: white biker week and black biker week. The two bike weeks are separated by one week of no bikers. (This is when we like to go). Having two bike weeks may sound crazy, but each group is so large that they need two weeks, and each group likes to have their own week. I am sure that this also sounds very old fashioned and some what racist…I guess it kind of is…and it isn’t. Long ago the two weeks were combined as one, but over the years some higher power decided they should be separate. I can’t imagine having both groups of people at the same time. That would be an insane amount of bikers.

Yesterday afternoon we headed up to Mrytle Beach to ride some of the rides on the boardwalk. Unfortunately the rides weren’t open for another couple of hours. (Bad planning on our part). There was, however, lots if entertainment. It was bike week!

We drove up the strip in awe of all the bikes and pimped out/modified cars. There was a sweet one in front of us. Tom convinced me to jump out if the car, run up the sidewalk and get a picture of it. The driver was gracious enough to slow down so that I could get the picture.

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Doug took a picture of the kids in front of a very nice and expensive Harley. There were many Harleys, speed bikes, and an occasional modified ride like the one in the picture. The streets were crowded with people and traffic was moving very slowly…..and this was only Friday. I can’t imagine how many people were going to be there this weekend and next week.

We had a great time. Eventually we did find a small arcade and some ice cream for the kids.

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Wilson rides a two wheeler!

Wilson has been riding the balance bike for over six months.  He can coast from one end of the driveway all the way around to the top of the other side.  He liked the balance bike and was not interested in riding a two wheeler.  Like any parent, we wanted to see him do something that we knew that he could do.  I also knew that it would be easier for us to go on family bike rides on the greenway.

While I was napping, Tom took Wilson aside and had him try to ride Gabriel’s two wheel bike downstairs in the driveway (at the beach).  Wilson did one lap with Tom helping him and then Wilson pushed him off and rode all by himself.  Wilson was so proud of himself.  He almost crashed a few times because he was looking around at everyone.  :)

I am so proud of Wilson.  I knew that he could do it.  He is riding a two wheel bike at three and a half years old.

Today I was able to see his success in person and get it on film.

Here is a video to prove it.

 

From Balance Bike to Two Wheeler

For Faith’s birthday we got her a Kinder Bike balance bike. This is a bike that is smaller, has two wheels, a hand break, and has no pedals. It is supposed to help kids learn how to ride a two wheeler. The child sits in the bike and uses their feet to propel the bike forward. When she feels comfortable she can take her feet off the ground and roll while balancing.

Faith has had her balance bike for two days. She has practiced riding it in the house for the past two days, but today she practiced it in the yard/driveway. She was balancing beautifully. After about ten minutes she wanted to try her two wheeler. Within minutes she was riding her bike.

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Her Kinder Bike balance bike

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Faith riding her two wheeler all by herself!

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Faith riding through the yard on her two wheeler