it's a great day because I got to ride with someone special

“It’s a great morning,” my dad replied to the cashier, “because I’m spending it with my daughter.” 

We had just biked about 20 minutes, including a coast and speed filled ride down the hill to the Palisades Farmers Market and had just picked up a bunch of peaches and nectarines, when my dad responded to the cashier wishing us a “great day.” 

For the second time ever, I visited the Palisades Market, but this time with my dad.  

With the arrival of a new member of the family, my dad’s new great nephew, my dad came to town to celebrate. Over the weekend, he perked up hearing about all the peaches and nectarines at the local farmers markets and so I suggested we take a morning ride over to the Palisades. 

The ride wasn’t a long one and I had to be back in my neighborhood by 10am, but we squeezed in an hour to go for a ride. 

Driving to the Farmers Market wouldn’t have been the same. Wind sweeping our faces and our feet spinning our pedals forward, I heard my dad share about his wedding day and the beautiful weather and how he took a dip with my siblings under blue skies on that day decades ago. Cars passing, we took care to communicate to keep one another safe. As we climbed the big hill, I cheered us both on with “great job.”

There’s certain bonding that can only happen in motion. 

It was a great morning for me because I got to spend it with my dad, riding a bike. 

Family dynamics, mobility and riding ability might be very different in your life, but who might you like to squeeze in a special hour to go on a ride with?

Wheels up, 

Ellen 

PS: One of the primary reasons people reach out to me to learn to ride a bike is because they want to be able to do so with their family. Fun fact, I do private coaching to support women and non-binary folks in learning to ride a bike or gain greater confidence riding in the Washington, DC area. If that’s you, email me at [email protected], so I can share more details and arrange a coaching session with you!