Since this summer's first adventure-with-bikes, and despite the unexpectedly long but still wonderful oh-my-tush-bike-oddessy two days later (a word to the wise, if a state park trail map shows a cut-through that will make a loop from Rehoboth Beach to Lewes, then through Cape Henlopen State Park and -- this is the key part -- BACK through Gordon's Pond to Rehoboth Beach, please know that this is proactivity run rampant, they have NOT YET finished the path, and you will be re-tracing your steps for an extra 5 miles [or 8, if you take the long way round to see the WWII barracks, the really cool observation towers, and the nature center.])…

Ahem.

That is to say, we returned from the beach and almost immediately started researching bikes.  After a somewhat odd experience at a Bike Shop That Shall Not Be Named (no thank you, getting a prettier (!) color bike for mom will not change the fact that I am never going to fit on that frame without being really uncomfortable.  No commission for you mr. bikesalesman), we found a great set of bikes at REI, on sale (still spendy) including the Novara afterburner for the tot. 

And this past weekend we had two GREAT rides - one down the Wissahickon Trail.  And one amazing double-circuit of the Fairmount Park Schuykill River Area.  It's flat, it's pretty, and on the weekends, West River Drive is closed to allow bikers of all sizes to pedal without fear. 

If you heard a mother-daughter singalong of Sound of Music interspersed with a few tunes from Dr. Horrible, hi there, that was us. 

The afterburner is so named because it allows a young one to keep up with you by locking on an extra wheel, seat and handlebars to your bike frame.  This is only for a child with enough wherewithal to stay on the seat on their own.  Note the helmets, please.  There are a lot of safety considerations, and you should be well acquainted with them - not the least is to take some breaks and allow for walking around.  We are quite pleased with the whole system, and are already talking about extended bike trips and exploring the Rails To Trails system on the east coast.  More soon.