Mitchell’s Secret Bicycle Lesson

Every day, I catch glimpses of Mitchell walking to and from his stationary cycling class. He moves with this careful rhythm, his cycling bag bouncing against his side, totally unaware that I even exist. I can’t help but wonder - does Mitchell know how to ride a real bicycle, one that actually travels down a street instead of staying in one spot?

In my daydreams, I’m the one who would teach him. I imagine us on a smooth, quiet neighborhood street, where the afternoon sunlight makes everything look soft and golden. Mitchell would be nervous at first, his fingers gripping the handlebars so tight his knuckles might turn white. I’d be right there, my hand just inches from the bike seat, ready to steady him if he starts to tip.

“It’s okay,” I’d tell him softly. “Just feel the bike. Let it become a part of you.”

Mitchell is so perfect in his indoor cycling class, spinning those stationary bikes with this amazing precision. But a real bicycle? That’s a whole different world. It’s about feeling the wind, dodging little cracks in the sidewalk, experiencing how the world moves around you. I wonder if he’d be as smooth and controlled when facing the unpredictable world of real bike riding.

My mind wanders, picturing that magical moment when everything clicks - when balance becomes something natural, and the bicycle feels like an extension of his body. Would his serious face break into a surprised smile? Would his eyes light up with the joy of finally getting it?

But for now, Mitchell remains a mystery - the boy who cycles indoors, completely unaware of the bicycle adventures waiting just outside the studio doors.