Manar Learns to Ride Her Bike

The bike had two small extra wheels at the back, called training wheels. With these, Manar could ride easily around the garden and the local park. She loved riding with the training wheels. She felt fast and free.

But all her older friends could ride their bikes without training wheels. Her big brother, Tom, who was nine, could ride very fast on his blue bike. Manar wanted to ride like them. She wanted to ride on two wheels, not four.

One sunny Saturday morning, Manar decided it was time. "Dad," she said, "Can you help me learn to ride my bike without the extra wheels?"

Her dad smiled. "Of course, sweetie. It's a great day for it. Let's go to the park. The grass is softer if you fall."

Dad took off the training wheels. Suddenly, the bike looked very different. It didn't stand up by itself anymore. Manar felt a little bit worried. She put on her pink helmet and her gloves.

In the park, Dad held the back of the seat. "Okay, Manar, start pedalling, and try to look straight ahead, not down at your feet," he said.

Manar started to pedal. The bike felt wobbly. She tried to steer, but it was hard. She fell over onto the soft grass. It didn't hurt, but she felt unhappy. "I can't do it!" she cried.

"Yes, you can," Dad said kindly. "Learning something new takes practice. Let's try again."

They tried again and again. Manar fell a few more times. Once, she scraped her knee a little bit, and Dad put a plaster on it. She was starting to feel tired and wanted to stop.

Just then, her friend Dorra rode past on her bike. "Hi Manar! Are you learning to ride without your training wheels?"

Manar nodded sadly.

"It was hard for me too," Dorra said. "But my mum told me to keep trying and to go a little faster. It's easier when you go faster."

Manar decided to try one more time. She got on the bike. Dad held the seat. She started pedalling, trying to go a bit faster this time, looking straight ahead at a big oak tree. Dad ran alongside her, holding on. Then, without telling her, he let go for a second. Manar kept going! She wobbled, but she didn't fall. She rode for about five metres all by herself!

"I'm doing it! I'm doing it!" she shouted happily before wobbling to a stop.

Her dad laughed. "You did it, Manar! That was fantastic!"

Manar felt so proud. She wasn't perfect yet, but she knew that with more practice, she would soon be riding her red bike everywhere, just like her friends. She couldn't wait to tell Grandma and Grandpa.