Betteshanger team recall their first bike ride
Let your mind wander back – it’s your birthday (or equally it could be Christmas), there’s a large conspicuously wrapped present in the hallway and it might just be that you’ve finally been granted your wish. You’ve got your first bike. Nothing quite matches that giddy feeling of unwrapping the loosely applied paper that’s between you and years of outdoor play. The Betteshanger team know that feeling well.
We’re feeling a little nostalgic here at the Park. With the weather improving and the Park becoming busier, we’re watching out of the windows as more and more cycling enthusiasts take to the tracks. We’re casting our minds back to the day we got our first bicycles – and sharing our memories with you.
Tamasin’s stitches
“I was absolutely delighted to get my first ever brand new bike for Christmas in 1982, at the age of five. Having mastered how to ride it fairly quickly, it soon became my pride and joy. I spent many an hour playing outside in the street with other children.
Just around the corner from where I lived was an alley way that was on a slight hill, and this was my favourite place to ride my bike as I sought the thrill and adrenaline rush of whizzing the down the hill and navigating the sharp left turn at the bottom.
One day, I was demonstrating my daring cycling skills as other children looked on, and for added effect I was letting out whoops of excitement, so much so, that I was so preoccupied in giving a good show, I forgot to turn my handle bars and crashed directly into the chainlinked fence at the bottom.
To this day I still wear the scar on my cheek from where the wire pierced through and resulted in 5 butterfly stitches! But it never put me off, throughout my childhood and teens I always had a bike, and many more stories of bike related injuries.”
Kieron’s family outing
“My first memory of learning to ride was when I was very small. Our family outing to the park with my Dad and brother was the first attempt of many, to get me confident on a bike. My brother and I took it in turns to ride my cousin’s pink Raleigh down the hill. The bike was far too big for us but my Dad insisted we’d be ‘fine’.
Taking turns, we hurtled down the hill with our Dad shouting directions from behind, as we cannoned down the slope towards a stream. With scraped knees and elbows, we vowed to never ride my cousin’s bike again.
When I turned twelve, a childhood friend helped me build up my confidence on two wheels. After many attempts and countless summer evenings, I cracked it.
Now I go mountain biking with my Dad, and we laugh at how times have changes and how I’m now coaching others in learning to ride. I also spent some time recently helping my brother, now 27 years old, finally learn to ride, so all three of us can go cycling together.
It may have taken two decades, but we’ve done it – our Dad can be happy knowing that regardless of how long it took, both his sons can now ride a bike.”
Natalie’s Dutch wheels
“I can’t quite remember learning to ride a bike, but I do remember my wonderful fluorescent orange ‘Chopper type’ bike with pedal-backwards brakes. It had been passed down to me by one of my Dutch cousins.
I was probably around ten years old, and I remember spending countless hours riding around the local streets near my home. The weather always seemed sunny and it was such a treat to ride my bike with the children in the local neighbourhood.
When I applied for my cycling proficiency course at junior school, I was disappointed to find that I couldn’t take part, because of my bike having different brakes. But I really loved having a bike that was so different to everybody else’s, even if it was second-hand! To this day, I favour the Dutch bike style, and love cycling.”
Emily’s balancing act
“I think I must have been seven years old. I was led out into the hall and leaning on the wall was quite clearly a bike, with a large sheet of wrapping paper draped on top. I remember pulling it off in seconds and my heart plummeting when I realised there were no stabilisers attached.
Still, it was a bike! Seeing my nerves surfacing behind my excitement, my Grandad pulled me aside and told me that I could have a pound coin if I could ride it all the way around the yard, without my feet touching the floor.
Being naturally competitive, I rose to the challenge and though I wouldn’t exactly call it pedaling – I did manage to kick off and ride around the yard, with either leg sticking straight out for balance. As promised, I received one pound, and was then offered another for actually using the pedals next time.”
Everyone deserves to ride
We want everyone to feel the satisfaction of riding a bike. Betteshanger has developed a variety of sessions, designed to promote confidence and awareness when cycling. Our British Cycling qualified coaches help cyclists young and old to learn and develop through our fun activities.
Beginning with the basics of balancing and pedalling, our children’s ‘Learn to Ride‘ sessions are great to help youngsters progress on from stabilisers. We then have our newly established ‘Cycling Confidence‘ course, aimed at ‘Learn to Ride’ graduates and novice cyclists who can independently cycle but need a helping hand to further their ability and boost confidence on two wheels.
When young cyclists feel ready, they can progress on to Betteshanger Bikers – another fun weekend excursion that allows the kids to blow off some steam, all while honing their cycling skills through fun games and activities.
We encourage all ages to enjoy cycling, and we know it’s not just the youngsters who would appreciate some coaching to get confident on two wheels. Find out more about our one to one tuition, and other cycling activities here. It’s never too late to learn.
Share your story:
It’s nice to be able to look back fondly on our first experiences. We’d love to hear your memories of your first bike ride too. Share this blog and your own childhood memory with your Facebook friends, using the hashtag #bettesfirstbike for your chance to win a free ‘Learn to Ride,’ ‘Cycling Confidence’ or ‘Betteshanger Bikers’ session, so your youngster can become more confident on two wheels.
Terms and conditions apply, please see our Facebook note for more details: #bettesfirstbike Competition (T&C)
