MB#75: 𝙋𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙅𝙤𝙮𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙇𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙘𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝘾𝙮𝙘𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙎𝙖𝙛𝙚𝙩𝙮, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙎𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙈𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚.

[MemoirBlogthon #75] On my grandson's first birthday, we gifted him a cycle with stabilizer wheels—a choice directly influenced by my own delayed, difficult experience learning to ride. My father taught me that skills must be passed on, and honoring that legacy, I patiently mentored my grandson through every stage of cycling, from gliding balance to confident main-road riding. His appreciation—likening my teaching style to the Mahabharata’s Dronacharya—affirmed that the true value of any hard-won skill lies in its transmission.

MB#75: Imparting cycle riding skills to my grandson Vivaan.

The Legacy of the Wheel Begins Early

On the eve of my grandson Vivaan's first birthday in 2014, my wife and I decided on a significant gift: a tiny cycle equipped with stabilizer wheels. This choice was deliberate, stemming from my own experience of getting a late start learning to cycle at the age of ten. I was determined to give the next generation the advantage of early learning, turning play into good exercise.

The process of teaching was meticulously structured, prioritizing safety and balance before pedaling. For the first two years, his parents ensured he had a height-adjustable cycle, and I began the instruction. Safety was always first: ensuring he wore a properly fitted helmet and that the bike was sized correctly, allowing him to stand with both feet flat on the ground. We started in the safe, open areas of our gated community, avoiding slippery or rough terrain.

Dronacharya's Teaching Style

I started by having Vivaan straddle the bike and push with his feet to glide, gradually increasing the glide time. Once he found his balance, I introduced pedaling by having him push off with one foot from a 2 o'clock position, all while providing gentle support without holding the handlebars. I was patient and positive, offering constant encouragement and praise for even small progress.

I was driven by my father’s guiding philosophy: "You learned cycling, doing its maintenance, keeping up with its repairs, and handling it safely. All this must be passed on to the next generation instead of stopping at your level."

As Vivaan grew, we adopted a more advanced sequence for his third, much bigger cycle (bought when he was nine): focusing on balance, practicing gliding, gradually decreasing my support (holding the back of the seat, not the handlebars), and finally introducing pedaling. I would even hide myself to check whether he could proceed without my presence. He did it.

The Ultimate Validation

Vivaan’s appreciation was the ultimate reward. He once told me, with heartfelt sincerity, "Thaatha (grandpa in Telugu), I am really enjoying my cycle learning. My friends had no such facility of an expert like you. This is why I stand out from my group of friends in terms of both slow and speed cycling."

His appreciation culminated in a beautiful comparison: "Thaatha, you just resemble Dronacharya's teaching style, as described in the Mahabharata, which centers on a student's singular focus and unwavering dedication in teaching me from childhood in the practical instruction of cycling."

What I acquired with difficulty in childhood, Vivaan has been the best beneficiary of, gaining the confidence to ride in the nights, use the lift for his cycle, and enjoy riding whenever he feels low or energetic. This experience proved that the legacy of a skill is truly fulfilled only when it is successfully passed on.

MB#75: Quiz

MB75 Question: When teaching the more advanced stages of cycling, the author would primarily hold which part of the bike to allow the child to learn natural ste

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• A. The handlebars.
• B. The back of the seat or the upper back.
• C. The front wheel axle.
• D. The pedal crank.

MB#75: Quote

"In teaching, you cannot see the fruit of a day’s work. It is invisible and remains so, maybe for twenty years." – Jacques Barzun