Do you remember how you felt when you
learnt to ride a bike for the first time? Wind in your face, a bit of speed,
independence and that sense of achievement?
This weekend a young trainee
came down to Bikeworks All Ability Club in Victoria Park. The trainee, seven
years old, has problems with co-ordination and had never managed
to pedal a bike before.
As an instructor, it can be back-breaking
work, quite literally. I had to run with them on the trike whilst helping to
push their feet forward, instead of what they wanted to do, which was to go
backwards.
It was a case of repetition and learning
through muscle memory. After 20 minutes and attaching their feet to the pedals
with straps, my little trainee was cycling free and smiling from ear to
ear. I had to run to keep up, and let me
tell you, cyclists don’t run unless you’re the Brownlee brothers of course.
A future Special Olympic athlete in the
making? I hope so.
Which brings me on to the next achievement
this weekend. Drum roll please. I managed to cycle 55 miles in training for my cycle
to Eurovision. Whoop! I mean I nearly collapsed, but 'whoop' anyway!
With that and the first signs of spring –
the blossoms are popping in Victoria Park people – this can only mean one song
from the Eurovision archive.
Donations for the Eurovision Cycle:
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MandyNormski
For more information about Special Olympics
GB:
For more information about Bikeworks All Ability:
Image of child on a tricycle is from Shutterstock and is not the real trainee.
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