Riding Sydneysiders#3 Milo, Pierre, Finn & Joss

When did you learn to ride and what got you hooked?

I learned to ride a bike Christmas day in 1980. I was thrilled to miss out on church and instead got to stay home with Dad teaching me to ride. Riding a bike gave me freedom, I could be out all day on my bike just touring around the neighbourhood. Riding a bike still gives me that sense of being free.

I love cycling so I was keen to teach my kids as well. With my oldest son, Finn, I didn't want him falling over on a brand new bike so I took him to Centennial Park to use the hire bikes. The taxi driver who took us there advised us having the first lesson on the footpath, outside of the park because no-one ever uses it. He was right and Finn picked up bike riding very quickly, so I bought him a new bike for his birthday soon after.

Joss is 5 years younger so he spent years on a tagalong, and this really gave us the freedom to get around, as I still didn't have a drivers licence. We could spend a whole day cycling, stopping for snacks or trying out a new playground.

Now we do Spring Cycle together every year, it's a wonderful feeling riding on the road with no cars around. I learned very early on, to dress us all in bright red shirts, so I can see at a glance that no-one has been left behind.

Joss made it on to his own bike a few years ago, and now he is big enough for an adult bike. I miss those tagalong years though.