The Cyclist's Cycle

Traditionally young children begin their cycling career on the tricycle. This genius invention consists of pedals, steering, and three wheels, one in front, two in back. The extra wheel allows for extreme balance as a small child is likely incapable of balancing his or herself.

As the child grows up they usually graduate to a bicycle with "training wheels." These training wheels are attached to the bike to assist with balance, however, the primary balance must come from the rider himself. Additionally, the training wheels can be removed once the rider doesn't need them anymore.

Finally, our improving cyclist has graduated to the bike. While different models come with different bells and whistles including hand-breaks, speeds, baskets, racks, etc, the distinguishing feature of the bicycle is that is has only two wheels.

So where is the relevance in the sequence of cycles? Well first, we recognize that each of these cycles has an appropriate age group. It is not appropriate for twenty-somethings to be pedaling around on a tricycle. Now with this in mind, consider yourself a wheel, those around you a wheel, and the actual cycle a relationship. When you are a child, you need your parents for balance, and while you still need them for balance as you grow up, there are instances in your life when you can ride a different cycle. When you start dating even, a parent may sit a few rows back in the movie theater serving as that extra wheel as support. Later on, you graduate to the training wheels and go on the group or double dates before you are old enough to spend alone time with your boyfriend or girlfriend. For some reason though I have recognized a strange phenomenon where taken adults are so desperately wanting to return to that awkward little tricycle. That is they are inviting a poor innocent friend to be that front wheel to their romantic back wheels. A couple also may find two uninterested friends and force them into an awkward training wheel situation. It takes a lot of practice to balance on the bicycle, just as it does in a relationship, but it's definitely meant to be a bicycle and nothing else.