I never imagined I’d be someone who would enjoy bicycling. Growing up, the fear of falling off my bike after an early traumatic experience kept me away from it. I remember trying to learn as a child, but one day, I fell right in the middle of the road. It was a painful experience, both physically and emotionally. The fear of repeating that fall lingered with me for years, and I simply couldn’t bring myself to try again.
It wasn’t until 2018 that I found the courage to face that fear and finally learn to ride. At that point, we were living a few kilometers from my workplace, and I realized that taking the bus every day wasn’t ideal. It felt inefficient and often stressful. I had a thought: What if I could ride a bicycle to work instead? The idea of cycling seemed like the perfect solution—it was quicker, more flexible, and a great way to get some exercise. The only thing standing in my way was my fear, so I asked my husband to teach me.
Luckily, my parents-in-law had bicycles that they kindly let us borrow. And so, my journey began. At first, it was challenging. It had been years since I last tried to ride, and everything felt unfamiliar. But as soon as I was able to balance and ride straight, I felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. Suddenly, I didn’t want to stop. Each ride felt like a small victory, and I began to love the freedom of being able to bike to work without relying on public transportation. We would practice in the neighborhood, like children learning for the first time, laughing and encouraging each other.
There were a few falls along the way, but they no longer discouraged me. In fact, each time I fell, I got back up a little quicker, learning from my mistakes. I was no longer afraid of falling; I was excited by the idea of cycling wherever I wanted. Soon, my husband and I would ride together to the city for errands, enjoying the sense of independence and the fresh air.
When we moved to our new house, the environment around us seemed to invite cycling. Surrounded by forests, farm fields, and scenic landscapes, it felt like the perfect place to explore by bike. We would spend our spring and summer afternoons riding along quiet paths, taking in the beauty of nature. It was a peaceful, almost meditative experience, and it became one of our favorite things to do together.
However, like many other activities, our biking adventures came to a halt when COVID hit. The lockdowns and restrictions made it harder to go out freely. Then, life changed again when I got pregnant, and with the arrival of our child, we found ourselves focusing on the new responsibilities that came with parenthood.
But I have hope that one day, we’ll get back to biking. As our daughter grows older, I dream of the day when we can all ride together. The thought of teaching her how to ride, seeing her discover the joy of cycling, fills me with excitement. Maybe she’ll love it the way we do, or maybe she’ll find her own passion, but regardless, I look forward to those moments of shared adventure.
Learning to ride a bicycle as an adult was an unexpected and fulfilling experience. It taught me that it’s never too late to overcome fears and try something new. Now, whenever I hop on my bike, I’m reminded of how far I’ve come—and I can’t wait to create even more memories on two wheels with my family in the future.
