One of my long-standing goals is to get more of my family biking. Amber’s had some back issues when trying to cycle before, though, so it mostly falls to the kiddos to try and fulfill those dreams.
The Providence Bridge Pedal seemed like a natural outing to try on for size. Part of that was the relatively short distance – less than twenty on paper, and spoiler alert we ended up doing about eleven. Another part was the view from the top and the chance to ride on full freeways that are normally car only.
Family starting off on the Bridge Pedal
Across the summer I did get out and bike with the kids some in preparation. Evidently I needed to do more, though, as they struggled quite a bit with the long climbs up Portland’s various bridges. While my son’s energy levels can’t be denied, they apparently don’t translate directly to leg strength.
Climbing the bridges is no joke!
We ended up taking a pause and my daughter’s knee (which she’s ended up having surgery on since) bothered her enough for a pickup there. I managed to convince my son to finish through as only one bridge remained, and we did get there in style. Popsicles at the end sweetened the deal, even if it meant standing in some crowds.
My dream of doing some long rides isn’t forsaken entirely, though as both kids are entering their teenage years I’m aware that I have a limited window yet to get them engaged. We’ll see how next year goes, and I’ll start a little sooner training next time around.