Frown Lines: Wantables — The Free-Wheelin' Edition

By hsingping

The training-wheels are off of Little One's powder pink bike and she's dabbling in big-girl business right now. This past Sunday I witnessed her first independent pedaling — Daddy-free and without major or even minor spills.

It's taken an excrutiatingly long time to build up to this point, as we have somewhat of a scaredy cat on our hands. Despite our chosen technique of practicing on a gently sloping grassy hill near our house — the theory being that falling will hurt less — my daughter has proven intractable up until now. Many, many false starts. Lots of encouragement falling on deaf little ears. It's almost a complete rehash of my multiple failed attempts to learn (at the embarassingly delayed age of 8!). But it's true what they say: When they're ready, they're ready.

So, in honor of this milestone, I'm bike blogging today. Actually, cycling has really been in the air around here.

My husband has taken to daily exercise rides (!!!) and has been pretty disciplined about it, I might add. He's trying to get me as hyped on biking as he is. As annoying as the constant pestering has been, I'd be lying if I said it isn't working. Perhaps, he's gotten a little inspiration from my pal, Brad, who's been training like crazy to ride for the Pablove Foundation, which raises money for the fight against childhood cancer.

Then, too, on a recent trip to The Camp, I stumbled into Cycle Werks and fell in love...

This Alexander Girard beauty rounds up to $800 and I'd never ride it on the merciless hills surrounding my house. But that does nothing to dampen the longing! Not for nothing, I'd take any one of the Girard Amsterdam series (btw, the website at the link has a learning curve). If I had this gorgeous vehicle, I'd surely then be able to convince myself to purchase more than a few of the items included in this adorable Design*Sponge "bike madness" round-up.

But back to my daughter. It's only a matter of weekends before she's zooming around Greater Southern Orange County and she needs accoutrements! First up, we have to replace that ill-fitting, more-harm-than-good discount store helmet with something sweet like this one by Little Nutty...