Rural

Remember the thrill that cycled through your body the first time you rode your bike no  hands ..the sense of accomplishment you got when you were finally able to master that "older kid trick?" It was a rite of passage....one that we thought made us so cool...peddling our one-speed chain rattling bikes down the street, wheels turning in a blur, feet off of the pedals, streamers flying from handlebars, arms waving... Yelling out "look Mom, no hands...." Mothers shaking their heads while standing in the yards watching us whiz by...calling out, "if you fall down, don't come running to me."  There was always someone with road rash, scabby knees, or torn clothing in our neighbourhood group. It was all part of growing up... Somewhere as we aged we lost our abilities to ride a bike without that bit of not so charming middle-aged wobbling... After a bit of training, [it took me a while to build up the courage to try it] I'v