MUM’S THE WORD.

From moms who work for us, to our lovely mothers who got us rolling way back when, we feel SO LUCKY to have these red hot mama remembrances to share with you. Happy Mother’s Day to all…

Colins’ British Mums  (we have 2!):

“I don’t have anything funny or particularly interesting, however, in London, 1943, WWII still on, I would ride to school on my bike every day with my books on my back and sometimes a hockey stick or tennis racket across my handlebars. It was along Fulham Palace Road, across Putney Bridge and up Putney High Street with cars and buses all around me. I was 15/16, wearing school uniform and no helmet! Summer weekends my friend Jean and I (still good friends) would take off on our bikes with no plans and ask farmers if we could camp in their field for the night. Would not happen today! I don’t know what a blog is but this is all I’ve got!”

 

“When my parents were first married and my dad started a new teaching job “down South” in England, in the late 1950s, they spent a lot of their free time roaming the countryside on an old tandem bike. As far as I know that was all the cycling my Mum ever did. It wasn’t until after she passed away, and my sister found a small pile of postcards that Mum had originally sent to her parents, that I got to see exactly where they had ridden together. She had sent cards from some of the same towns I rode through myself when I explored the back roads within a day’s hard ride from Reading, where I went to University.”

 

Melissa’s Inspirational Mom:

“My mom is 85 years old and still rides her stationary bike almost every day; yes–with a Terry saddle!”

 

A Cycling History Lesson from Lisa’s Mom:

My mom’s childhood cycling memories are some of her favorites. She grew up in a beautiful Western New York town with endless tree lined streets, Erie canal views, and best friends to fill her cycling summers. She still speaks very fondly of her 1940’s Victory Bicycle which was her birthday present on May 7th, 1945, the day Nazi Germany surrendered in WWII. It was a Monday and school was closed due to the big news.

Here’s the story behind that bicycle – a wonderful slice of American History.

 

Liz & “A Mother-Daughter Cycling Adventure in Santa Fe:”

“We look alike: the only difference is the color of the Bella Short seams. Ruthie goes pink and me, gray as my hair could be. From downtown tapas and art galleries to gentle mountain climbs, a great first big road ride with my 24 year old.”

 

Cycling Selfie: Whitney & her Ah-mazing Mom:

 

Kelly Gets Her Own Bike:

“Growing up in a single-parent household posed its challenges, but my mom did it with grace having little support or assistance. Her love for “everything” outdoors has stayed with me and as I reflect back with Mother’s Day fast approaching and Bike Month upon us, I’m taken back to when I was kid and we shared a 3-speed bicycle (not enough money for two).

All my friends had cool bikes and I was stuck with the “old lady” bike (gears meant nothing back then). I wanted a “cool” bike like everyone else and much to my delight… one summer day, mom came home with a new bike! It was purple, sparkly, all mine and just perfect – like mom. Happy Mother’s Day, Happy Bike Month!”

 

Paula’s Mom starts a bike gang:

“I don’t ever remember my mother going near a bicycle, but back in the 60’s, she volunteered to be the Cub Scout leader for my brother and his buddies. This photo was the day the big idea for their project was to ride bicycles to the local hot spot in town and pick up trash. I can’t imagine Helen on a bicycle–with this band of boys–headed down the cemetery hill to the Hi Hat drive inn, but she led the way and lived to tell about it. She retired from Cub Scouting shortly thereafter.”