My youngest daughter’s now 14, and still can’t ride a bike despite over the years my many many attempts to assist, bribe, etc her to do so. I just decided that if and when she wants to she will. Same with swimming, we took her to lessons, she didn’t like them, we have gone, and still do go to the metrodome swimming. She loves water and is not afraid to go under etc, but she just refuses to be taught either professionally or by us? She says I get by doing the ‘doggy paddle’
My first bike was a Raleigh Budgie, at the age of 4 or 5 mi fatha attempted to teach me how to ride the b@$ta@rd thing, his teaching method was to plonk me on the seat put my feet on the pedals whist he held the bike then pushed me off, yelliing, "get thi feet moving , get pedalling" , I travelled 10 yards lost my balance and went kite first into a concrete fence post, bloodbath! cheers fatha! ........sithi.
I have friends in France who run a bike hire place and a cycling-themed B&B. A few years ago I was without transport for the weekend and they persuaded me to borrow a bike and cycle over to theirs (only about 7k) for a birthday party. When I arrived they excitedly asked "How was it?", clearly expecting to have converted me to their cult, and were totally taken aback by my foul-mouthed tirade about how bloody awful an experience it had been and that I'd be leaving the bike there and walking home. Whenever I listen to the song Expo ’86 by Death Cab for Cutie and he sings "Sometimes I think this cycle never ends", I think of that day.
I think if you aren't confident riding a bike and swimming you miss out on a lot I learned to swim late and have no confidence whereas I made sure my kids learned young and they have always gad a great time in the water
My parents couldn't swim when I was little. Mum learned as an adult, dad still can't swim. They made sure my brother and I learned as kids for that exact reason, but I can't say I'm a massive fan of swimming, or water in general. I do 20 lengths of the pool most weeks, but I'm absolutely petrified of open water. Absolutely love cycling though!
Yes, something similar for me. Mum and Dad pushed me off on the forge in Hoyland and told me to pedal. They were cheering as I pedalled along unaided, but I had no idea they'd stopped pushing, looked over my shoulder and smashed into the ground. Amazing how many times as a kid you just fall over on hard surfaces, brush yourself off and carry on. I'd be in bed for two days now.