The last couple of days this week in South Carolina have been really cloudy and kind of gloomy, not exactly what you would expect from the beach. But while we weren’t exactly running to go to the beach in this weather, it had some blessings in disguise. 
All around the island there are bike paths and you can rent bikes for pretty cheap, so my family rented three bikes for the week.
We don’t ever do any biking when we’re at home. It’s just kind of an activity that we always forget about and our neighborhood is pretty busy so it’s hard to bike around in our area. The paths are really nice here and it’s almost like riding through a jungle or forest at times. It’s just a really relaxing environment and you don’t get too hot or sweaty, so it was really nice just biking with my family. There is just so much vegetation and it’s all so gorgeous! It’s also kind of funny to see these little kids zooming by me on their little kid bikes, knowing that when I was their age I didn’t know how.
I remember when I got my first bike. It was a pink and white barbie bike and it had little pink and purple tassels off the handlebars; it was about as girly as you could get. I got it as a birthday present for my seventh birthday, and I was so excited that I finally had my very own bike! My uncle even contributed a little white basket that would hang from the front and I had a matching barbie helmet. 
I loved riding my new bike. Of course, I hadn’t had a bike before that so I hadn’t learned how to ride a bike yet, so I was still using training wheels. Whenever we would go up to my aunt’s house for barbeques and to swim, I would bring my bike and my dad would take off the training wheels. I would try so hard to learn to ride it and my mom would be there by my side, holding on to the seat, but once she let go, I always started to wobble and would eventually fall.
Eventually I just gave up.
I guess I got tired of trying and failing repeatedly, so I never learned how to ride a bike properly. My barbie bike became forgotten in the shed in our backyard, and I didn’t have the desire to try and ride it ever again.
When I was 13, my family went up to visit one of my aunt’s and uncle’s in Indiana. My brothers and sister had to work or didn’t want to go, so I was allowed to bring a friend with me to tag along. We stayed at a friend’s house who were out of town, and during the day, me and my friend grew bored. Our friends had some bikes in the front that they said we could ride. Naturally, I didn’t feel inclined to since I didn’t know how, but my friend was very persistent. When I told her that I didn’t know how to ride a bike, she didn’t laugh or make fun of me, she just simply said, “Well today you’re going to learn!”
It started off pretty rough. I fell countless times, but I didn’t want to wuss out with my friend there, so I kept trying and to my own surprise, it eventually paid off! I remember that first time that I rode that bike without any help, and it was so scary and exhilarating. I just started squealing and my friend was just laughing and clapping, relieved that I had finally gotten it down. After I stopped, I was so nervous that I would somehow forget how to ride and I would have to learn all over again, but once we got to the bike paths, I was doing fine, albeit a little wobbly. I always told her that I was indebted to her for teaching me how to ride a bike. Whenever we talk about that trip we just always giggle and crack up.
Since then, I biked a lot more just because I knew I could. Now, I’m better but I still wouldn’t say I’m comfortable on a bike. I think that’s just because I don’t do it enough to get comfortable with it. Plus, I always have to borrow my sister’s bike. We got rid of my old barbie bike forever ago, but we never replaced it. I really like riding, it’s really relaxing to me and just overall enjoyable, but after I get off my arms are kind of shaky and sore, which doesn’t make any sense at all. It’s really bizarre. :?
Do you remember your first bike or when and where you first learned how to ride?
That picture is so pretty!
I used to have a bike, but it was still the one with training wheels. I don’t know what happened to it, but I haven’t had a bike since, hence I don’t know how to ride a bike. It’s sad really, I tried learning for like 5 minutes once… I always teach myself how to do stuff, like I taught myself how to rollerskate.
When I tried to go on a bike, I immediately fell straight away.
Around my area, there are a few parks, but only one in the “greater neighbourhood”. It’s more out into the city and further out that they have bike tracks along the road, but my mum prefers that I ride in a park because it’s safer. Our family doesn’t really go biking or anything very much. I think it’s pretty cool you can hire bikes – they don’t really have that here unless it’s a tourist attraction site.
I remember my first bike was also pink, some weird pink BMX. I didn’t actually have training wheels, and I was scared to use it without my dad or mum pushing me from behind and giving me support. I used my brother’s bike with training wheels haha. :X
I was pretty scared of riding a bike and falling. I didn’t ride my bike much at all. When I was 14, I remember having told my friends endlessly that I couldn’t ride a bike. They all said they couldn’t believe I couldn’t ride one.
One day in secret, I just pulled out my bike and started riding and all of a sudden I could ride without falling off. No one taught me so I guess I felt pretty good about myself, even though I learned so late.
I think it’s great you finally learned how to ride a bike too! I actually got a bike to replace my pink one because it’s now too small, but the new one is too big. Bahaha. I have to go bike riding again one of these days. :’)
Aw, I feel so loved! <3
Damn, I'm so jealous of you! Starting in two weeks? Ugh, utter jelly. I wish we could start two weeks later…
I think I'm going to get another raise as my birthday ticks over. Gosh, I've never been more excited to turn 15 in my life, haha! I hate asking my parents for money…it seems so wrong, I guess, especially if you're buying your own stuff like clothes and whatever. I derno. And yeah, kids who just empty their parent's wallet with no shame are just spoiled brats. Gr. Do you have a job?
It's my birthday next week and it was my friends birthday today. She is exactly 6 and a 1/2 days older than me!
Aw, I hope you have fun back home!
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I wish our neighbourhood had some more bike-friendly paths! It would be great to ride my bike again…I miss it, haha!
I remember my first time…it was so daunting. I was 8, and really embarrassed because I was "old" to learn how to ride. My mum helped me out and it took 10 hours before I could do a loop around the park without falling off. What a beast.
Aw, your friend is so nice and lovely!
I hope you enjoyed your vacation!
The path looks lovely! I cycle around on the same old country roads full of potholes… a nice shady park or something like that to cycle through would be nice.
Aw! Your friend sounds amazing. I learnt to ride a bike when I was a lot younger than you, but I hated using the brakes and had an accident because of it. It wasn’t a bad one, just a few grazes and scrapes cause I was hurtling down this hill and didn’t brake. ;e;
Riding a bike is great, though, it’s easy exercise, you see so much stuff and it’s fun! And you never ‘forget’ how to do it. In fact, when I ride a bike, I always wonder how it was that I couldn’t do it. It’s easy!
I like bikes and I am comfortable on one… I’ve been through a few. I think my first bike was lilac or pink or something – it was small, anyway. My next bike was a hand-me-down from my sister. It was hot pink and had handlebars that stuck up at the ends. My old bike was purple and I liked it but I got sick of the colour after a while, and it’s every so rusty. I now unofficially share my brother’s bike (well, I use it more than him, anyway), and that’s pretty new. The suspension’s killer on it – great for the potholes – and the brakes are in good order for when some crazyass car comes shooting around the corner. And it’s grey, so it’s nice and nondescript.
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Yeah, it was only really cause I was with my friends, hehe.
He was definitely nuts. I was tempted to shout at him or at least give him a frosty scold but in the end, I didn’t. I kind of wish I had but at the same time, I’m glad I didn’t really rise to the bait… even though I was 110% livid.
Bed is epic.
I getcha, I getcha – when I go on holiday I like to look around but chill at the same time, heh.
We don’t have pancakes for breakfast in my family, at least not often. I have cereal or yoghurt with fruit, and everyone else just has toast.
Take care! xx
I’ve never known someone who doesn’t know how to ride a bike. I never even think about it. I ask friends to go biking all the time, and I never once thought, “Well, what if they don’t know how?” But I guess that’s how I am with swimming. I’ve been asked to the beach countless times, but I always decline because I have no idea how to swim. People are always shocked when they find that out. I don’t know why. I always assumed there were a lot of people who don’t know how to swim. I guess not.
My first bike was a pink and white Barbie bike, too! It was probably the same exact one, haha. I distinctly remember tassels, but I’m not sure what color they were. I just remember that I had a Barbie bike and my brother had a black Power Rangers bike. They looked very odd next to each other.
Gloomy weather isn’t a bad thing :P! I rather have it gloomy than dead hot. D’:! This biking trail looks peaceful from the picture’s point of view :P! I would like to ride a bike around the trail- only if there’s no cars at all XD! I barely know how to ride a bike so speed control is my issue D’:! Little kids can be a bit aggressive with their bikes :P.
You’re not the only one who gave up with riding bikes :'(. I had a bike, but only used it for a couple of weeks. I couldn’t do it without training wheels :/.
But hey! At least now, you know how to ride a bike :D! I guess. We all have different times of being able to learn how to ride a bike. You learned at the age of 13 and mastered it. I learned at… Somewhere in the years of high school and I didn’t master it yet XD! After seeing my friend getting hit by a car on a bike and dislocating his shoulder, I don’t even want to think about riding bikes. Even if it is the car’s fault!
Thank you :)! I rather have an “extreme” overbite than an underbite. At least that’s more easier to handle with than an underbite :/. It increases self-conscious by… 2093127938172%
Every instrument has their own difficulties. The easiest.. Is the triangle XD!
Whaaaat?! 180 more per month for a whole house of data plans?! That’s crazy! Oh! You have Verizon! Bahh :X! It makes everything harder -__-! I have T-Mobile so I can hop around phones like nothing. I don’t really have any downside to that because the service quality is great for me :o.
I was 13 when I first started riding a bike, I flipped over the handlebars and I bruised my chest. I will never forget that day.
Ah. I really love it when the weather’s like that. Specially in Summer. It’s bare to happen here. A bike ride is the best hobby I might like after swimming in that actual season.
Haha. I remember when I was 6 when I first tried to ride a bike. It was with 4 tires so I can get started with it. Then 6 months later, I started practicing with 3 tires, then took it off and started getting used to equilibrate myself on 2 tires, back when I was like 8 years old.. But of course it wasn’t that easy at first, it needed several practices, and my parents had always to stand next to me, holding me tight so I don’t fall!
Ahh. Childhood! And it continued like that for only 2 days.. and then I got used to it, and now I drive my bike just like a crazy! 
I love going down hills, at super-speed! Woo. 
Ah, AP exams are going to be a bummer. Can’t wait until I start going demented from all that AP studying, which is pretty much going to be every course I’m taking next year. xD
Ha, well at least if you live in the middle of the U.S.A it’s better for you to get to places quicker then we would. It would probably take us forever just to get to the middle of the U.S.A. Since I literally live on the East Coast of the U.S.
I should totally take you to New York then! Hehe I love it there especially when we go on our once-a-year-four-day-vacation! Ha, I try to make the best of those four days and usually we see broadway shows such as Oliver Twist, The Nutcracker, and The Lion King which are frequent shows played during the holiday season! But other then the broadway shows there is always sight seeing and THE FOOD. YUM, New York cheesecake is probably the best cheesecake in the world and it come from New York too! xD
Ahh…now that you have me talking about the trip I want to go like now!
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Gosh! That is some gorgeous scenery! You are seriously lucky to be vacationing right now; I wish I was you right now. Ha, I would love to go biking and just feel the nice breeze. I could go biking here since I like in the urban suburbs but it wouldn’t be the same. All I would be seeing would be houses!
You seriously brought back one of the worst memories of my life! Ha, I remember when I first rode my bike on training wheels. I sucked at it, I couldn’t even more with the training wheels on every time I tried to push the bike forward it just wouldn’t budge. Eventually I got my parents to take the training wheels off and so they did, I remember them then taking me to the park so I could ride my bike. I sort of epically failed since I kept on falling of my bike. xD Eventually I felt the same way, wanting to quite but decided not to. After months of practice I finally got the hang of riding my bike…and then one day I “parked” my bike on the side rode and ran back home to get some ice cream when I came out my bike was underneath the neighbors car. Worst experience ever.
I was around 7 years old when I took the training wheels off of my bike. Back then I still lived in QC…. since it’s sort of city like there I was very scared of running into other people. I literally had to be forced to ride without my training wheels. Within the first 10 feet of riding without training wheels I rode off the sidewalk and fell off my bike. Definitely one of the scariest moments of my life.
Haha, I am actually afraid of dogs! As lame as that sounds they freak. me. out.
I mean, the little ones are okay but when they start yipping all over the place they annoy me. With cats, their meows are just cute! Big dogs freak me out because they can knock me down, ahahaha 
That story about the elevator sounds strangely familiar for some reason.
It sounds like something I would be interested in reading, haha.
And I didn’t take any pictures of the parade, but there are several videos of it on YouTube! Apparently it is a pretty big deal, LOL. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=En3ppBMcLl4
And ahh. Biking. I never did learn how to ride a bike.
I don’t really remember my first bike, but I remember learning how to ride on rocks? Dx It was so difficult, but I want to learn how to do so SO bad, and I didn’t have any place else to learn! Dx Haha.
I’ve never been biking, but it sounds pretty fun! :3
That’s nice that you could rent bikes at the beach! I love biking.
I totally know what you mean! I never ride my bike around the neighborhood–even though I totally could and I get bored so often. I really need to start riding it more often.
I had a bike just like that when I was a kid! I wish I still had it… my family probably donated it when I got too big to ride it… but I miss those memories.
Aw, your friend sounds like such a nice person! I don’t really remember what it was like to learn to ride a bike, actually. But I’m sure it was scary. I do remember taking a bunch of falls when I was younger. xD
I think I was six or seven when my dad first taught me to ride a bike. But I didn’t get a really nice bike with gears and coolness until a few summers ago.
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Oh, my mom did that to me all the time when I was younger! I remember this one time my mother promised I wouldn’t get a shot and I ended up getting three. I was very angry. xD
That sounds really tasty! I’ve never tried chips on a salad before, but I will definitely try it next time.
Haha, yeah, I probably shouldn’t have bought the domain. I haven’t had time to actually set the layout up yet and start blogging, and there’s no question I’ll have no time once school starts. Life’s a mess. xD
I’m glad to hear you are moving on, and thanks. I’m just really glad I met somebody who can relate.
The very first time I rode or ever touched a bicycle was when I was 11 or 12. I was pretty late in learning this kind of stuff because I never really got experience these things until I came to Canada. I was pretty damn nervous hahaha. I did fall quite a few times and scraped my knees but it’s all part of the learning process
I don’t have a bike now but at least I know how to ride one (even though I don’t ride it very well). I would like one though to ride around in our park area here because it would be an gorgeous path to ride on with a friend or someone!
I love going bike riding! I don’t do much of it anymore since I just haven’t found any time, but I love riding around in pretty areas around here and exploring to find new places. There are lots of forest areas and creeks and stuff to ride along around here, so maybe one day I’ll grab some friends and we can all look through it!
Ahaha, I had a bike just like yours when I was a young girl. It even had a little basket in the front! I loved it to death, but I remember when I started getting older I would refuse to ride my bike until my mom got me a new one because I was so embarrassed to ride it.
I learned to ride when I was really young, maybe 6 or 7? Then I would ride it eeeeeeeeeeeeverywhere I went! I loved it.
It’s disgusting, but fascinating, isn’t it? Like, as angry as I was for my brother and his friend eating all the food, I was also slightly . . . impressed. I really wanted a bagel, but a part of me is really proud that they managed to eat three bags of them in three days. Haha.
Yes! Olivia had tons of stories, and tons of amazing pictures. She had a really good time, and I’m glad. ^^
Galveston is a really beautiful place. You should look it up online sometime. It was one of the biggest towns in Texas before a horrible hurricane (deadliest one in all of American history) pretty much wiped it out. Then a huge chunk of the population moved inland to Houston, which is why Houston is now a huge city.
As many faults as I have, one of them is definitely not a lack of useless trivia. -lol-
I have a pretty wealthy friend, but she doesn’t really flaunt it much, so that’s nice. She doesn’t make me feel bad for being poor.
I haven’t read any of her stuff before This Lullaby, except for This Summer, which I vaguely remember ticking me off for some reason. I can’t remember why, but it did. In fact, I almost never picked up a Dessen book again, except The Truth About Forever came so highly recommended.
I honestly can’t remember when I first started riding my bike. I do remember riding it everywhere afterwords. Like I loved to ride my bike and to this day, I still do.
I remember when I was on my bike and I went down this hill too fast. I tried to slow up, but couldn’t and I ended up sliding in some rocks and banging on the concert really hard. My knees where all bleeding; my chin was a mess. I was one bloody mess. Luckily my dad was there and he had the neighbor drive us home. We weren’t too far away, but luckily I was wearing my helmet or else I might have hurt my head as well.
I wanted to comment on your articles. They are all very lovely. I really enjoyed reading them and I hope to see some more from you soon. I also bookmarked your corner book mark. My sister and I love to do crafts and would love to make some!
Thank you! <3
Hello Becca! How have you been? Have you had a great summer? South Carolina sounds really nice. I bet the gloominess is a nice break from all the hot weather, though. Those bike paths sound and look beautiful. That is so awesome! I got really into mountain biking this year, but there are no trails within biking distance of me nor do my parents want to transport my bike from my mountain house to our city house so I had to give it up until the next time I go to the mountains.
Aw, your bike sounds so cute. I don’t remember my first bike! I’m pretty sure I struggled with learning to ride a bike, but I learned when I was five so I don’t remember much about it. I think it’s awesome that you were with your friend when you learned to ride a bike! That sounds like a great memory to share with your friend. (: My dad taught me how to ride, but I don’t really remember it so it doesn’t matter. I am pretty comfortable on a bike because in my mountain community that is my number one mode of transportation. We can all ride without our hands on the handlebars.
We have paths like that where I live. It runs along the river, but I don’t go on it often.
I got my first bike for Christmas when I was 5 I don’t know what happened to it. I just remember my old red one that I had later when I was 10. We lived in wide open spaces so it was perfect. But now I live in the city and I’ve outgrown it.
A friend recently let me ride her bike but it was to small for her and way to small for me. It was nice to ride again though.
I think the shakiness comes from not being used to riding. It happens to your legs when you rock climb too.
I live in South Carolina! It is a nice small town, very pretty, but sometimes you just want to get away somewhere bigger, like the city or something. But over all, it really is enjoyable! That’s great you learned to ride a bike! I learned i don’t know how long ago! But I love ridding bikes. The wind in your face and just strolling along is really nice. I usually just do it after school, but just around the nehigborhood, i’ve never been anywhere else really :p.
. Anyways, have a nice day! 
I should try it sometime! Go somewhere else with a sidewalk and just ride along. Anyways, i really like your website! My favirote color is purple
I read this entry a long time ago but never had a chance to comment! I love it. I love it because the beginning of my own story is very similar to yours. I had a pink barbie bike but when it didn’t work out, I neglected it and left it in our shed. Haha. To this day I’m an adult and still don’t know how to ride a bike, but to be honest, I never really TRIED to ride a bike ever since my Barbie bike. Your story is very inspiring and reminds me that I should give it a go again someday