Tikkun America RESTORE Magazine Cheshvan | Nov 2024 | Page 6

Just like

BENJAMIN JUSTER
There it was , right in front of me : two thin wheels connected by a metal frame , with a skinny seat perched on top . This new , shiny bicycle seemed like a massive leap from the big wheel I was used to whipping around the neighborhood . Straddling it for the first time was both exhilarating and terrifying . It felt unnatural , and even at five years old , I understood that there was a real risk — I could fall and get hurt .
We often hear the phrase , " as easy as riding a bike ." This expression is meant to suggest that something is simple to learn , and once you know how to do it , it becomes second nature . While it ' s true that once you ' ve mastered the skill of riding a bike , it becomes automatic , this isn ' t the experience for most people learning to ride for the first time . I ' ve seen children who are absolutely terrified the first few times they try , and I ' ve witnessed more than a few broken arms to prove that things can — and do — go wrong . So , " easy as riding a bike " is not always a " walk in the park ."
The process of learning to ride a bike isn ' t just about understanding the physics of motion and balance ; it ’ s about experience .