Advocacy & Safety - Here is a story, about a lovely lady....

ok ok ok . about my 5 year old ;p

Today, we went on our first ride of the year together. She was doing great! (Last year, she got spooked and was too scared to ride - I think her bike was a tad awkward for her) Today, on a small hill, with me riding behind her on the sidewalk, she got into a small speed wobble (has a tendancy to stare to the side she does...) and did a face plant when her bike unbalanced. Only injuries were a small scrape on her hand, and a honking big bruise on her forehead under where her helmet is. The helmet took the hit and is going to, me thinks, be replaced.

The cool thing is I asked her what she wants to do tomorrow and she said: go on a bike ride.

VICTORY!!!!

ok ok ok . about my 5 year old ;p

Today, we went on our first ride of the year together. She was doing great! (Last year, she got spooked and was too scared to ride - I think her bike was a tad awkward for her) Today, on a small hill, with me riding behind her on the sidewalk, she got into a small speed wobble (has a tendancy to stare to the side she does...) and did a face plant when her bike unbalanced. Only injuries were a small scrape on her hand, and a honking big bruise on her forehead under where her helmet is. The helmet took the hit and is going to, me thinks, be replaced.

The cool thing is I asked her what she wants to do tomorrow and she said: go on a bike ride.

VICTORY!!!!

Awesome. What a brave little one, and a smart dad for making sure she had a helmet! Kudos to you both.

Way to go, Sgt!

ok ok ok . about my 5 year old ;p

Today, we went on our first ride of the year together. She was doing great! (Last year, she got spooked and was too scared to ride - I think her bike was a tad awkward for her) Today, on a small hill, with me riding behind her on the sidewalk, she got into a small speed wobble (has a tendancy to stare to the side she does...) and did a face plant when her bike unbalanced. Only injuries were a small scrape on her hand, and a honking big bruise on her forehead under where her helmet is. The helmet took the hit and is going to, me thinks, be replaced.

The cool thing is I asked her what she wants to do tomorrow and she said: go on a bike ride.

VICTORY!!!!

When I was that age, I didnt understand the concept of brakes apparently, so I just did a controlled fall into a neighbor's yard if i had to stop. When I took up road cycling, my parents warned me not to revert back to my younger days. :rolleyes:

Here is a story, about a lovely lady....

You should probably check to make sure she is not in possession of the tiki!!

When I was that age, I didnt understand the concept of brakes apparently, so I just did a controlled fall into a neighbor's yard if i had to stop. When I took up road cycling, my parents warned me not to revert back to my younger days. :rolleyes:
Yeah, no kidding. When I was six my parents bought bicycles for my brother and I (those generic bmx-style ones with the 20" wheels and the coaster brakes). We had never had training wheels, and our dad worked too much to give us any lessons.... and we were too focused on staying upright to worry about brakes or steering (we let our neighbor's fence do that)... we had the blackest/bluest shins you could imagine for a few months...

ok ok ok . about my 5 year old ;p

Love.... :rolleyes:

;)

Sometimes I wonder how we survived to adulthood. So many things that are considered basic safety precautions were not even thought of then.

Good for her! Definitely replace her helmet. They are only good for one crash.

Sometimes I wonder how we survived to adulthood. So many things that are considered basic safety precautions were not even thought of then.

So true! I remember when we, as kids, felt safe to ride wherever we wanted to without real adult supervision. When I got my first huffy bmx type bike (late 70's early 80's?) for Xmas my friend and I took off at 8am and didn't come back until 8pm that night!

If my kid did that now I'd have cops all over looking for her!

As for the OP, isn't that the scariest thing as a parent when your kid takes a fall like that? I'm glad she's okay. My daughter did the same thing a couple years ago. But she still loves to ride. I actually think I need to get her a bigger bike now. Oh yeah, good idea on replacing the helmet!

Sometimes I wonder how we survived to adulthood. So many things that are considered basic safety precautions were not even thought of then.

You're just the fraction that made it....

Got her the new helmet:) She would not even consider trying one on until we found a purple one with flowers on it.....

She is still enthusing about riding with me so I think we are over the fear now. Yay!

+1 on riding with your children!

I used to ride with another family and my 2 around that age, the main ground rules were the youngest rider set the pace, so it was usually my daughter at age 6 or one other youngster at age 5. The rides were typically under 5 miles, but it was on low traffic country roads and a chance to teach them proper road techniques. Must have paid off, the 5 kids are now all in college and still ride.

Aaron:)