On yer bike

"Mum lets go for a bike ride".

Now for those of you who know me, while an able walker and reader I am not famed for my biking abilities, but I did get one for my Birthday last year, and it has been very underused. 

Ant is here in all his glory, so he pumped up the tyres, made sure I was wearing my helmet the right way round and we set off from home in Red Hill ( note the word hill in the name)  to head down to the Brisbane River which is blessed with bike paths all the way along from the City both left and right of it. Brisbane is a biker's paradise. I just haven't found it yet. 

As we approached our first main hill and I was grappling with the gears, which incidentally are still a complete mystery, he put out a helping hand on my back and shoved me up the rest of it - oh the joy. Then with wind in my hair and doing death defying speeds we headed down Enoggera Rd and had to turn a sharp corner for a short cut. I applied the brakes sharply and felt myself lose balance. The path was steep and I could just picture myself rolling rather indelicately down it. I righted myself quickly and applied the brakes, this time the way Ant suggested and off we went again. We zoomed down roads and passages I had never explored before and ended up at the River and happily cycled on the flat nearly to St Lucia, chatting and laughing, overtaking other bikers and being scathing of their lycra. We headed back to the City for a well earned fresh orange and passion juice and the ubiquitous but unbelievably delicious soft shell crab hand rolls. 

I wasn't quite sure I would make it back but that moment of doubt just faded as we headed off. He waited for me when it was uphill and let me overtake him when it was downhill. He coaxed and encouraged, never once disappeared from view, only once did he roll his eyes. We got back and I did not dismount once to push, so I consider that I have earned brownie points, the wry admiration of my son and husband and now consider that 12 kms is a mere bagatelle - Tour de France here I come.