Took Annie riding the other night (Everyone else is still gone.) after figuring out a solution for her short legs and lack of endurance...
Josh remembered that someone had given us one of those half-bike thingies that you can pull behind your regular bike so he went looking for it in the storage unit.
About 30 minutes later, he had attached it to his bike (The bike he paid $10 for, ten years ago at a garage sale.) and we were on the bike trail.
I'm guessing that some day, I'm going to crash my bike while taking pictures...and it's not going to be pretty.
Not far into our trip, the half-bike thingie started going all sideways, leaving Annie holding on for dear life so Josh kept having to stop and straighten it.
Perhaps that's why someone gave it to us for free.
We rode about six miles.
And then the half-bike thingie really broke and we had to walk the last 1/2 mile back to the truck.
So last night, Josh ordered one of these and I think it's the answer to our biking prayers. (She can ride her bike as far as her little legs can take her and then Josh can hook her up to his bike.)
Karen that looks like an awsome contraption! Bike riding can be so much fun. Love that you took pictures while riding you go girl LOL.
Posted by: Deneen | June 24, 2010 at 08:52 PM
I love the leaning bike picture. So funny.
Posted by: shaina | June 24, 2010 at 09:29 PM
What a cool bike idea. Sounds fun. I love your storytelling... and of course your photos- all the details- framing of the tree above them riding, their bikes reflection (my favorite shot), the crooked tire, Annie walking alone in the gutter with Josh ahead... and on and on) Thanks for sharing- you make me want to go out and be adventurous (riding 6 miles with little kids and take pictures while riding my bike. Maybe I'll just try the picture part :)
Posted by: jacki | June 24, 2010 at 09:33 PM
Oh Karen - her eyes peeking back at you?
Scoop her up :P
Posted by: Kirsten | June 24, 2010 at 09:50 PM
love the story-telling with photos...was LOLRH (really hard) looking at the sideways bike pics.
Posted by: Kat | June 24, 2010 at 09:56 PM
Karen, what a laugh.......I read your post and my laugh got louder and louder as I went down the photos. My 4 year old is having a bath in the tub across the hall and is yelling out "what mummy what" because I'm laughing so hard...and then the magic one of it breaking.......seriously poor Josh Downs but it does make a great story for later. LOVE LOVE LOVE the colouring in the photos.
Posted by: Kathy Aylward | June 25, 2010 at 12:49 AM
Love your photos and stories as always Karen. And I would not dear to take photos riding my bike - LOL just thinking about it.
Have a great weekend.
Posted by: Ingvild | June 25, 2010 at 01:14 AM
Thanks for waking me up this morning with something to giggle at. I think I'm going to bookmark this post to read again on a day when I really need a smile.
Posted by: JJB | June 25, 2010 at 03:44 AM
Sorry, But I just had to LAUGH!!!!!--those photos of Annie "leaning" are soooooo funny!
Hope your new toy works out better for ya!
Posted by: {vicki} | June 25, 2010 at 05:47 AM
Agreeing with everyone else - those leaning pictures and your dialog along the way are so funny!! I'm cracking up here all by myself in my office. What a great set of shots!
Personally, I'm impressed with the clarity of those photos you got while riding! I think mine would be totally blurry...
Thanks for the laugh. :-D
Posted by: KarenY | June 25, 2010 at 06:04 AM
I love the leaning photos -- if only there was a soundtrack! If Annie's anything like my boys I think I can imagine it pretty well though... We have a trailer bike (made by a company that started in Oregon!) and while our oldest has outgrown it, the youngest has just grown into it and it's a really fun way to get the whole family out on the road. I haven't taken my camera out there yet though -- I'll have to try that, but they're getting pretty speedy and I think I'll need the long lens and a good long stretch of road.
Posted by: Jen Spain | June 25, 2010 at 06:22 AM
Haha - you crack me up. As stunning as your photos *always* are, your dialogue keeps me coming back for more and more.
And yay for bike rides! I can't get enough of them.
Posted by: Shannon | June 25, 2010 at 06:31 AM
I love the way she peeks back at you! too too cute! gotta love that Annie! And the gizmo seems neat - wish I knew about it when my kiddos were a little younger.
Posted by: Stephanie @ La Dolce Vita | June 25, 2010 at 06:59 AM
Oh my gawd...I can't believe you ride & take pictures at the same time. I can barely ride a bike period!
Posted by: Jennifer M. | June 25, 2010 at 07:04 AM
Great pics! We rented a half-bike contraption for a family bike ride one summer on Cape Cod. The guys at the bike store said that the kid who rides the half-bike needs to be able to balance themselves. Essentially, they can ride a two-wheeler, the half-bike just keeps them in line with the parent (and thus safe in traffic).
Posted by: Sarah | June 25, 2010 at 07:13 AM
Awww.. too cute - poor little Annie - in some of these pictures she really did look like she was having to hold on for dear life! The side to sides were too funny but I'm glad no one was hurt in the making of these great photos! LOL Have a great weekend! :o) xoxoxo
Posted by: Tracy | June 25, 2010 at 07:53 AM
Awesome! We had a half bike too, and she rode it for miles and miles. And then she got too big and we sold it. Now she can't ride a bike at all. She's 14. I've failed as a parent.
Posted by: Kelli | June 25, 2010 at 08:31 AM
YES YES! I just saw someone at the park the other day with the one you can unhook.. genious! Lovin the wobbly pics.. hee hee.
Posted by: Amanda | June 25, 2010 at 08:41 AM
I'd get another one so your hooked up to his bike as well.Get yourselves a convoy!!!
Posted by: Karen Aldrin | June 25, 2010 at 09:03 AM
Glad you captured this time... not to give up...
Fun biking!!
Posted by: Jennifer Camplin | June 25, 2010 at 12:26 PM
Look at you...multi-tasking bike rider! And those half-bike thingie pics are hilarious!!! Annie didn't even get her feathers ruffled.
Posted by: kat-in-texas | June 25, 2010 at 01:51 PM
Karen, thanks for the chuckle. :)
Posted by: Rene' | June 25, 2010 at 02:58 PM
The photo of Annie (second from bottom) where she turns to smile at you...... Such a beautiful child. I'm impressed with the six miles!! Happy Summer. Keep the great stories and photos coming.
Posted by: Judy | June 25, 2010 at 06:19 PM
Were you really taking some of the pics while riding?! That takes skill!! I love what u captured. Thanks for the link - that gadget would be perfect for my daughter!
Posted by: Lori | June 25, 2010 at 08:16 PM
we have those for our kids, make sure you got the training wheel kit too.
Posted by: ES | June 25, 2010 at 09:00 PM
That Annie is just as cute as my boys were at this age, little girl cuteness of course!!
Posted by: Jamia | June 25, 2010 at 10:00 PM
This story with the pictures is probably one of the funniest I've read on your blog, Karen! Thanks for sharing your adventure & letting us all laugh along with you :)
Posted by: Ashley | June 25, 2010 at 10:23 PM
What a great job Annie did of holding on! Poor mite.
Looks like a gorgeous bike trail.
Posted by: Tara | June 26, 2010 at 03:21 AM
They way I understand it the child still needs to be able to balance herself on the bike. Does Annie usually ride with training wheels? Have fun!
Posted by: jm | June 26, 2010 at 11:41 AM
I love all the pictures. I love how you are snapping away while Josh & Annie are standing there looking at the bike:)
The bike going side to side with Annie on it is funny!
Posted by: Melanie | June 26, 2010 at 06:13 PM
That photo of Annie half tipped over is HILARIOUS! You have mad skills shooting while riding, mad skillz!
Posted by: Tez | June 26, 2010 at 08:29 PM
Your photos amaze me and I just love reading your stories.
Posted by: lan | June 28, 2010 at 11:42 AM
i can't get the link to work. what did you buy?
Posted by: tram luu | June 28, 2010 at 02:32 PM
We have a trail gator - they work great :) The kid end can get a bit lazy now and again though. ;P
Posted by: Penny | June 28, 2010 at 10:28 PM
Excuse for that I interfere … To me this situation is familiar. Write here or in PM.
Posted by: Win icons creator for Windows 8 | September 24, 2012 at 01:29 PM