I rode my bike today for the first time in 2 years. For some inexplicable reason I never rode it last year. The last time I had ridden a bike before that was about 15 years prior. The last time I really remember riding a as a teenager I had a bad accident that pretty well ruined my bike. And I never got another one, until about three years ago.
In my last experience, I was riding around an unfamiliar part of the neighborhood with some friends. I thought everyone was turning right and heading down a side street, but they stopped instead. It was too late for me to stop and so I headed down the street. After a moment I realized why everyone else stopped and no one was following me. It was a really steep hill that was not meant for bikes. I flew down the street and at the bottom there was a rock or a pot hole or... something. And I caught it. And I flew over my handlebars clear across the street and landed on the other side. I was all banged up and bleeding from several place, but nothing was broken and I wasn't seriously hurt. Just lots of bumps and bruises and road rash. Luckily, my mom's friend lived across the street from that large hill and saw what happened and helped me recover and find my mom, who was at the school at an aerobics class. I remember going up to my room after this incident and just shutting myself in. Going over and over what hat just happened.
I saw some little kids riding back and forth in front of my house this evening and I guess that is what inspired the bike ride. I went out to the garage, found the bike, pumped up the tires, found my silly little helmet and I was off! I felt silly as the adult neighbors gave me goofy smiles and said hello. One of the little kids, maybe about two years old, was out on his three-wheeler and kept pointing at me and then waving every time I went past him. I really felt like a little kid out there on my bike with my helmet on just riding around the neighborhood. It was fun though. And very refreshing. I hope to make riding my bike a regular occurrence this summer and fall.
I know the feeling. About two years ago the soon to be hubby bought me a bike for my birthday. I was so excited to go out and try it with him. I hadn't rode a bike since I was a kid and remembered it wonderfully. Well, on our first time out I had a pretty nasty fall and ended up hurting my back. I have yet to go back onto the bike and it has been sitting in our storage area calling out to be ridden. You have given me the courage to get back on the bike. Hopefully this time I don't fall. =)
Danielle, I am glad I could help encourage you to get back on the bike! I am still a bit afraid to go on any roads with a steady flow of traffic, but I plan to get out there again this weekend.