Until yesterday I had no clue how to ride a bike. It’s just something I never learned. And whenever someone said “Oh, it’s just like riding a bike” I nodded along and thought “so I’m going to yell and cry and tell my parents to not let go of me?”
Yesterday I taught myself how to ride in an hour. I honestly didn’t think it would happen so fast. There was no crying. None of my skin is bruised. And I only hit 2 mailboxes(they just popped up out of nowhere; seriously, who puts a mailbox by the side of the road?). At the end of the day, I realized something: Learning how to ride a bike is a lot like learning how to cook.
What will they think of next?
When you start biking, you use training wheels to do all the work for you. When you start cooking, you probably aren’t “cooking” so much as microwaving and/or following directions to add 2 eggs, 1/2 cup of oil and baking at 350 for 25 minutes. But eventually you get tired of phoning it in; you want to learn how to do things by yourself. Or maybe you want to impress someone who already knows how to ride a bike/cook. So you set out to learn.
Should we talk about the 2nd search result or just not go there?
If you’re part of my generation, you’ll immediately go to google for an answer. Google, cookbook, experienced mentor—it’s all the same. Before you know it you’re following a step-by-step instructions on coasting without peddles or making a pasta salad. You’re still not doing it 100% on your own but you feel great about your progress and gain a new found independence.
And then one day it clicks.
You know how to push off with your feet to keep your balance. You get how vinegar, salt, and a little sweetness bring the flavors out in a dish. And before you know it you’re doing it all by yourself. You don’t need a recipe. You don’t need training wheels. It all flows naturally.
So if you don’t know how to cook yet, just know it’s like riding a bike. And if you don’t know how to ride a bike, just know it’s like learning how to cook. And if you don’t know either, that’s what delivery pizza is for.
I love this analogy – perfect!
HAHAHA search result #2 is hilarious 😀
I don’t know how to ride a bike yet either, and I’m 31! we just bought me a new bike so that I can learn because I love spin class so much, and also because I want to learn before it’s time to teach our daughter! I’m sort of scared to learn, so it’s really nice to hear that it wasn’t too tough! I’d love to hear more about how you did it.
This is the “training plan” that I used: http://www.rei.com/expertadvice/articles/teach+child+to+ride+a+bike.html
Basically I went to a flat place and learned how to hold my balance w/o the pedals on. Once I could go a long way w/o touching the ground and turn I put on pedals. Once you figure out how to kick off the rest is pretty intuitive.
Awesome, thanks for the link!
Love the post and once upon a time the only thing I could make in the kitchen was a stiff drink. Boy, times have changed. Just trying it and attempting it and going for it is the best and only way, really. In the kitch and in life!
This post made me laugh! I can’t ride a bike either, although I used too when I was a kid so I guess that saying is just a big lie 😀
Love this! I remember when all I knew how to make was a bowl of ramen noodles. Over time though, as I learned one new skill and then another, it got to a point where finally I wasn’t experimenting anymore…I was actually cooking! I still flop every once in a while (read: last night) but those flops get fewer and farther between.
I still have flops. And I still run into mailboxes. Thankfully, only one of those happens in the kitchen.
I was forced to learn to cook out of shear necessity at 11. My mom taught her courses until 10 pm most days, and the only thing my dad knew how to do was grill a steak or drive us to Burger King (that gets old fast). I had my disasters, but it was a great learning experience that I wouldn’t trade for anything. And I just died laughing at your Google search! Hahahahaha…
I still remember vividly the night my dad set a small fire microwaving a maple syrup container from McDonalds. And the night my dad or I dropped a plate of leftover Chinese food and it shattered and I cried because that was all he could make me for dinner. Oh, dads…
How do I ride a man?? TEACH MEEEEEEE!
I thought I was the only adult who didn’t know how to ride a bike.
Of course, you now know, so I guess I AM the only adult alive that doesn’t know how to ride a bike.. 😛
Yay for bike riding…and cooking! Happy long weekend, Evan 🙂
Soooo….I’m stuck with the delivery then. Dang. 😉
What a great post!! Its so true! I remember when I leaned how to ride a bike…I grew up in a neighborhood of all boys! One day they took me out on their two wheelers and told me to keep trying until I didnt fall anymore! Tough love…and my training wheels were off that afternoon!!
Congrats on learning to ride a bike–bikes are awesome!
Agree, too, that the internet is a wonderful conduit for learning all kinds of stuff about food prep (I was six when I learned to bike, though, and have the scarred elbows to prove it–wouldn’t have imagined googling how to!)
Ironically, I fell off my bike yesterday. I did not hit my head, but I am a bit bruised up. It is part of the sport. I knew it would have eventually.
Perfect. 🙂