Schwinn Elm and Koen Bike or Balance Bike

Wobbling Starts and Card-Clicking Engines: My First Bike Ride

When I was a young boy, I had a blue bike with training wheels—my very first taste of freedom on two wheels. It wasn’t a fancy Schwinn Elm or Koen like kids might ride today, but to me, it was everything. I still remember the way it looked under the sun, the way it felt when I climbed on, and the way it tipped side to side as I tried to keep it steady.

There were no sidewalks in our neighborhood, just the rough edges of the street where gravel met grass. My dad would give me a gentle push, walking beside me with one hand on the seat, encouraging me with every shaky pedal. I couldn’t even make a proper turn in the beginning, and I’ll never forget the feeling of the bike wobbling beneath me, like it had a mind of its own.

But I kept at it.

Eventually, the day came when the training wheels came off. That was both exciting and terrifying. I fell a few times, sure—but one day, I didn’t. I stayed up, rode straight, and suddenly, the whole world seemed wide open.

That’s when I discovered the magic of playing cards and clothespins. I’d clip cards to the bike frame so they’d slap against the spokes, making it sound like a roaring motor. I wasn’t just riding a bike anymore—I was riding a motorcycle, tearing through the streets with the wind in my face and that glorious clicking sound in my ears.

Later, when I was about 14 years old, that same blue bike took on a new purpose. My mom and dad helped me become a paperboy—and that’s a whole new story of early mornings, heavy bags, and learning responsibility. But it all started with that first wobbly ride, no sidewalks, and a little blue bike with a lot of heart.

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