After months of practice running, pushing, holding, catching, steadying, balancing with dad, LR hadn’t yet got the hang of riding her bike without the training wheels on. The big motivator was to learn before the school camp at Rottnest — EVERYONE else was going to be riding without training wheels and LR was determined to have it figured out.
On Thursday, LR, mum and RJ took the ferry over to Rottnest Island for the school camp. They stopped at the bike shop and rented two bikes: one with training wheels for RJ, and one without for LR. On Friday morning, amidst cheers from her classmates, LR wobbled away on her first two-wheeled bike ride!

LR à Grande Vitesse!

Learning to ride wasn’t the only challenge to deal with… There was also the issue of stopping, as well as getting started. A few times we heard the yell in the distance, “A little help! I need a push please!” It wasn’t until Saturday afternoon that she was able to get going on her own without a push from someone.

One of the Rottnest locals, a quokka, watches on in amazement.

H. stops by and gives LR a few tips on getting started. Getting the pedals right is everything!

After learning to take off by herself, things got a whole lot easier... sort of.

And off she goes!

With a look of intense concentration, LR discovers how much faster you can go without training wheels.

LR faces her biggest challenge yet... The hill on Georgie Bay Road.

One of the local bikie gangs (RJ and C.) patrols the streets, looking for trouble.

Related posts:

1. Rotto Wrap-up, 2010
2. Eagle Bay Easter
3. School Camp at Rotto, 2011
4. Our Bali Adventure 2011, Part 2: Elephants, Orangutans and Motorbikes, oh yeah!
5. Red Bull Air Race 2010