A bicycle ride, the wind in your face: It's the real wheel deal | Suzy Leonard

Ah, the simple bicycle, that first taste of freedom.

I don’t remember much about my first bike. It probably was a hand-me-down from my older sister. But I remember the feeling.

Once the training wheels came off, my dad let go of the back fender and I made that first wobbly ride, I knew my world had just gotten bigger.

We lived in a quiet neighborhood with lots of kids and not much traffic. The streets were ours, as we pedaled from one house to another, alone or in peletons of banana seats and tasseled monkey handlebars.

My college bicycle, a 10-speed racer, made getting to class from my off-campus apartment a breeze, no parking sticker needed. Not that I had a car to put a sticker on. It was no help whatsoever on laundry or grocery day, but it got me from my newswriting class to the practice field (the bell of my trumpet poking out of my backpack) just in time for band practice.

Alas, it got stolen junior year. My mistake. I figured it was safe on a friendly Southern campus like Auburn. PSA: Bike locks save rides.

Next came a 21-speed, bought on sale at a big box store. I was living in Satellite Beach and had big plans of rolling over to the beach every afternoon for power walks and shelling. I tooled around the neighborhood a few times, then tucked it deep in the garage.

More: I've learned: You can only cram so much into a purse — or a day | Suzy Leonard

More: An ode to friendship and the 10 friends every adult woman needs | Suzy Fleming Leonard

Turns out rolling to the beach for afternoon strolls wasn’t much fun solo.

A few months later, I met my husband-to-be. When we bought our first house, he affixed two sets of hooks to the garage ceiling and neatly hung our bikes side by side. Where they stayed for about 15 years until we donated them to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Bike Program so they could be refurbished and given to children in need.

I recently embarked on my latest bicycle journey, thanks to friends who are moving and asked if we would be willing to rehome a pair of gently used two-wheelers.

Mine is a powder-blue seven-speed cruiser with an adorable little bell and a wide, padded seat. My husband’s is silver, sleeker and faster, but I’ll take cute over speed any day.

As we rode them home from Cocoa Village to Rockledge, five miles along the Indian River, we enjoyed the early March sunshine and the gentle breeze. A man on a racing bike wearing a jersey and bibbed cycling shorts pulled up beside us and gave us tips. Place the ball of the foot on the pedal, not the arch. Raise the seat just a bit. Try a lower gear.

He wished us luck and took off down Rockledge Drive.

We made the harrowing trip across U.S. 1, but otherwise, the trek was uneventful. Once home, my husband found an easily accessible spot in the garage for our new toys.

When my sister Pat visited for spring break, we decided to ride the bikes to the Village for lunch.

It was a perfect day for a sister outing.

As we sailed along the river, pointing out the cool birds and beautiful houses, I had a momentary flashback to our childhood days. I was tempted to let go of the handle bars, throw my hands in the air and test my balance, something that came easy at 8, not so much at 60.

Pat laughed at my caution, but agreed it was best to hold on. A few years back, her husband the tri-athlete gave her clip-on cycling shoes. She has yet to wear them.

“I don’t usually give in to age,” she said, “but I’m letting age win this battle. I’m not willing to fall off a bicycle to prove I’m still young.”

With two trips behind me, I’ve learned a few things. It was a little less scary crossing U.S. 1 the second  time. My fanny has a five-mile limit, even when it’s planted on a wide, padded seat. Pedaling into the wind isn’t for sissies. And yes, Florida does have hills.

Still, I’m looking forward to getting reacquainted with the freedom and joy of having my own wheels.

Look for me along the river, holding on tight and grinning like a kid.

Suzy Fleming Leonard spent more than four decades as a journalist before retiring from FLORIDA TODAY in February.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Keep on rollin': New wheels evoke joy of childhood | Suzy Leonard