Biking Without Training Wheels
I have always wanted to bike without training wheels; I disliked the sounds my training wheels made. One hot summer day, I was biking in my neighborhood. I gripped the bumpy handlebars on my bicycle and felt sweat forming. SQUEAK, SQUEAK, SQUEAK!!! CLATTER, CLATTER, CLATTER!!! The training wheels were so loud that I thought everyone could hear them, even from inside their houses. I was determined to ride my bike without those annoying training wheels.
A few weeks later, on a bright, sunny day in my neighborhood, I got the courage to ask my parents to take off the training wheels. The tall trees swayed in the wind, the birds chirped happily, and the clear blue sky felt like hope. The green grass was freshly mown. I rubbed my sweaty palms on the side of my shorts.
“Mom, Dad, can you please take off my training wheels?” I asked.
“Why?” my mom questioned.
“I think I am ready to bike without them; they are really loud,” I explained.
“Okay,” she responded. My mom went to my bicycle and took the training wheels off. My heart was thumping so loud I thought everyone could hear it. My whole body got sweaty.
“Do you want to try it?” my dad asked. “Yes,” I told him.
I walked to my bike and tried to balance on it. I finally got one foot on the pedal, so I tried to put the other one on. My heartbeat quickened…and I fell off, with my knees landing flat on the ground.
“Ouch!!!” I yelped.
“Are you okay?” my dad asked.
“Yes,” I answered.
“Do you want to keep trying?” he inquired.
“Yes! I am determined to bike without my training wheels,” I replied. I attempted to get on my bicycle again…but fell. “Uhhh,” I mumbled, “I wish I hadn’t taken my training wheels off.” Then, I remembered how loud the training wheels squeaked, how embarrassing it was to be announced every time I rode my bike. “Worth trying again,” I told myself. I tried mounting my bike so many times I lost count.
Suddenly, I got a boost of courage. I told myself, “You can do this! You just have to work harder! Don’t give up!” I put one foot onto the pedal…and then swung my leg over to the other pedal. My foot landed perfectly.
“YAAAY!!!” I screamed, jumping up and down.
“What’s happening?” my little brother asked me.
“I just took off my training wheels and got on the bike without them!!!” I told him, still yelling. I did it!!!
I began to practice biking daily, slowly progressing. I learned how to turn, control, and not fall. I will forever be proud of the courage, determination, and perseverance I showed that day. Because of that, I will always remember that anything is possible if I don’t give up.