POD loved chatting to the mannequins in our local cycle shop recently but she displayed great pedaling skills too. Although steering and facing forward were notably absent, she’s the proud owner of her first bicycle. We opted for one with stabilisers rather than a balance bike which she’d no doubt grow out of before we could blink.
This weekend we headed over to Alice Holt Forest so POD could try her bike out properly. Managed by the Forestry Commission, it’s always a wonderful place to visit and the smell of the pine trees is divine – we regularly visit. Although POD decided not to pedal at all at first, she enjoyed the view from her bike especially when she looked up at the trees.
Seeing a wooden fort was quite distracting and she stopped pedaling almost as soon as she’d begun. On discovering a group of boys were chasing each other around it, she sat patiently on a tree trunk waiting her turn.
Once she’d climbed to the top a couple of times, the helmet was put back in place and she was on the move again. Albeit very slowly. She does well with pedaling if the pedals are in the right position and she’s learnt how to ring the bell!
Facing forwards is not second nature just yet. POD was more interested in peering at her feet, observing what was around her or looking behind her. Staying on the path was a little tricky at times as she’s not got to grips with how to steer. We headed towards the bracken on several occasions but kept her on the path. It was only a matter of time before she left the path completely although she found it highly entertaining!
With Daddy behind her and me running backwards in front of her (while taking photographs!), she managed a few minutes of constant pedaling gathering speed in the process. It was at that point, POD discovered cycling is really good fun. The look on her face at that moment was just priceless. Pure joy!
Linking up with #whatsthestory here on PODcast.
I just love that final photo – what a wonderful expression to capture. Lovely, lovely post. So glad Pod enjoyed her first bike ride and such beautiful photos capturing it 🙂
Ah gorgeous photo’s, especially the last one, I am glad she got the hang of it. Bless her she is so cute x
Clever girl – the cyclist and the photographer!
How precious is this post and I ADORE that final photo – look how happy POD looks, haha. Briliant capture. x
Oh, that last photo is just gorgeous! She has clearly discovered it’s fun there 🙂
That’s a lovely bike! We also opted for a bike with stabilisers rather than a balance bike and she still loves her bike 🙂 We have yet to take off her stabilisers yet 🙂 #whatsthestory.
Aww such a lovely post Charly! She looks so happy in that last shit!! Well done POD!! Xx
Oh my god I meant SHOT! Sorry!!! Xxx
My little boy is just learning to ride his bike too, he can steer (sort of) but hasn’t quite figured out the pedals turn the whole way round yet and just moves his feet up and down! He gets from a to b, just very slowly! Love that last photo.
She looks like she absolutely loves it. Z has a bike with stabilisers too, it just looked like it would last longer. He flits between that and his tricycle but loves that his new bike has spiderman all over it. Love her face in the last photo! 🙂
I just adore that last photo…. how joyous does she look. Little A will be getting her first bike for her birthday in January. I hope you had a smashing summer….. I am just coming back to the blog now. X
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The final picture of her pretty happy little face made me smile. It’s sweet how she is more interested in what’s going on around her (and behind!) than focusing on where she is heading hehe x
That is just the best face ever! Well captured Charly 🙂 x
Ah how exciting!! Looks like she had great fun – her expression in that second pic is just fantastic! X
Look at the smile on her face! Priceless! I had my first ride on a bike on many years recently, very wobbly, but it’s true you never forget once you have learnt x
What wonderful photographs Charly. Learning to pedal forwards is really tricky at first – all of mine found it difficult. Looks as though she’s going to love it!
What beautiful photographs, so happy and full of love. Looks like a wonderful place to go biking.
[…] recently received a bicycle we took POD to Alice Holt forest for her first bike ride. She’s (kind of!)  mastered the pedaling but she’s not quite there with the looking […]