Member-only story
Advice for Sybarites
The Right Speed
Bicycle gears, parenting, and preparing for the road of life
“Okay, let’s start in the middle.”
Snap, snap, snap.
“Like this?”
“Perfect. Now, when you start pedaling, it’s gonna make a funny sound. Kind of a clunk-clunk. But you’re okay. That’s just the gears changing. Ready?”
“Okay.”
“Here we go!”
Clunk-CLUNK!
Two bikes roll into motion. This road is flat, because that’s the best place to start. Both wheels turn faster. Both riders pick up speed. The smaller rider changes expressions; apprehension, then curiosity, then excitement. This is nothing like that little-kid bike. This one really moves.
“There’s a hill coming up. You see it?”
“Yeah.”
“Try an easier gear. Turn it, so there’s one click.”
Click, click.
“Like this?”
“That should work. See how it feels.”
The bike still moves at the same speed. This has never happened before. Hills have always been hard. Sweat and strain. Aching muscles and heavy breaths. Now the bike climbs at a steady clip.
