My youngest child, my only daughter, will be six this year. (My baby just graduated from KINDERGARTEN. HOLD ME.) She rides a bike with training wheels and the majority of the time, the wheels don't hit the ground. She's almost ready to be set free to ride.

My middle child, who will be eight in two months (WHAT?!?) has been riding a bike since shortly after he learned to walk. Dude was popping wheelies when he was three. THREE. He's a natural athlete, just like his Dad, and can ride a bike, throw a baseball/football/Frisbee, kick a soccer ball, do pretty much everything LIKE A BOSS.

My oldest child, who turns ten this year (DOUBLE DIGITS)(2012 is my year of THE FREAK-OUT, apparently) learned to ride his bike ... a month ago. Seriously. He would rather build intricate LEGO creations, or write and illustrate stories, or wander our yard and imagine stories, than ride a bike. We tried to encourage him, we tried to bribe him, and then we just let it go. I own a bike that my husband bought me for Mother's Day (upon my request) three years ago and I've taken it out only a few times. I prefer to run or go to boot camp. My husband hasn't owned a bike since he was a kid (He's a basketball/weights/runner guy). Now that our 'baby' is almost ready to ride, I think we'll incorporate cycling into our family's routine.

Back to my oldest child. He's made strides in learning how to ride a bike. So much so, that HE CAN RIDE A BIKE. *Applause*

The timing was perfect, as our school district plans a bicycling excursion for the fourth graders at the end of the year. They spend the entire school day (SIX HOURS) cycling from the school, to trails that run the perimeter of our small town. I signed up as a volunteer to bike with the class because I wanted to support my son, and to give myself a good workout as a bonus. It seemed like a brilliant idea at the time, but spending SIX HOURS on a bicycle after not riding for THREE YEARS makes for a very sore nether region backside.

We both came home completely exhausted, but exhilarated. HE DID IT. Now we just need to get my husband a bicycle and we can head out on the trails as a family.

How about you? Are you a family of bike riders? Or do you strive to be?