“2-3 days?!” That’s how long it supposedly takes adults to learn how to cycle, according to my fiancée’s research. Children, meanwhile, can pick it up in 45 to 90 minutes.
Earlier today, she spent two hours learning. I tried to teach her as best as I could. “Push off, stretch out your legs, and see how it feels to roll.” “Kick off with one pedal, put on your second leg, then try to complete one rotation.”
The conditions were tough, I would say. Scorching heat. Cobblestones. Heavy electric bikes. The pedals hit her legs a few times. She wanted to quit, but I egged her on. Begrudgingly, she got back into the saddle many times. At one point, she had that fierce look of determination on her face. The one all kid’s share when they’re hellbent on an adventure.
By the end of our two hours, she managed to cycle down a stretch of 50 meters in one go. There’s more work left to do, but I’m proud of her. She did extremely well!
There are many reasons to keep your inner kid alive. Laughter, fun, innocence. Grit is not one we usually think of, but it just might be the element that gets you to learn faster than anyone you know. Take off your training wheels—but preserve the spirit that allowed you to make that decision in the first place.
