My father made me put together my first bike from pieces of others. I not only learned and appreciated to ride a bike, I grew up to be a Mechanical Engineer because of the interest he woke up in me. Thanks Dad.
I grew up in NYC. In theory, you can get a driver’s license at 16. In practicality who can afford car insurance on a male driver under 25?
So the bicycle was the great liberator. I could visit friends who lived miles away. For longer distances there was public transportation, but I don’t think I ever used it for trips under 5 miles.
I guess this explains that when I was 16 years old, I ate six meals a day and still weighed 145 lbs.
My granddaughter fell and got hurt on her first attempt to ride without training wheels and now she’s terrified of her bike. She’s totally fine with her scooter, though.
We all have to remember that Calvin is a super nerdy kid who doesn’t play sports or do any of the normal fun things that most kids his age do. Hobbs is his only outlet along with being Spaceman Spiff, Stupendous Man, and a super sleuth detective. In fact, I don’t think a lot of kids his age have the imagination he has.
I had a similar problem with my first bike. It grabbed my pant leg, threw me down and skinned be up pretty bad. I never really did warm up to riding a bicycle.
I am 69 years old. Though parents and friends tried to teach me while growing up, I’d never learned to ride a bike. About six years ago I took a class, and to my amazement, I was soon able to ride a bike, but only in a straight line or a biiiiiiiiiiiig circle. Turns we’re beyond me, and I learned that, while I was proud of myself for learning to ride, I really didn’t like it at all. Then there was a bad fall; I haven’t ridden since, and don’t expect to.
BE THIS GUY over 4 years ago
Ride ’em, Cowboy!
Sugar Bombs 95 over 4 years ago
Did the bike make a farting/raspberry sound in the third panel?
Templo S.U.D. over 4 years ago
the good ol’ killer bicycle arc
Space_Owl on GoComics over 4 years ago
I’m 18 and still can’t ride a bike.
codycab over 4 years ago
You sure hiding behind that tree is going to help, Calvin?
Bilan over 4 years ago
Odd, bicycles usually don’t do that until you’re going downhill.
Deleted Account2623 over 4 years ago
I wonder if Calvin could destroy the bike beyond repair, so his parents would have to get him a new (and hopefully not bloodthirsty) bike
ninjanick101 over 4 years ago
Psycho bike!
alaskajohn1 over 4 years ago
I see Calvin survived the wading pool.
BigDaveGlass over 4 years ago
The 2 wheeled version of “Christine”…..
cubswin2016 over 4 years ago
I always thought that a tounge was necessary to make the sound that the bike made.
well-i-never over 4 years ago
I feel the same way about bison.
sonnygreen over 4 years ago
My father made me put together my first bike from pieces of others. I not only learned and appreciated to ride a bike, I grew up to be a Mechanical Engineer because of the interest he woke up in me. Thanks Dad.
dflak over 4 years ago
I grew up in NYC. In theory, you can get a driver’s license at 16. In practicality who can afford car insurance on a male driver under 25?
So the bicycle was the great liberator. I could visit friends who lived miles away. For longer distances there was public transportation, but I don’t think I ever used it for trips under 5 miles.
I guess this explains that when I was 16 years old, I ate six meals a day and still weighed 145 lbs.
gokarDun over 4 years ago
Bike riding…as in life requires a little balance. End of deep thoughts for the day.
tripwire45 over 4 years ago
My granddaughter fell and got hurt on her first attempt to ride without training wheels and now she’s terrified of her bike. She’s totally fine with her scooter, though.
djtenltd over 4 years ago
We all have to remember that Calvin is a super nerdy kid who doesn’t play sports or do any of the normal fun things that most kids his age do. Hobbs is his only outlet along with being Spaceman Spiff, Stupendous Man, and a super sleuth detective. In fact, I don’t think a lot of kids his age have the imagination he has.
jel354 over 4 years ago
Does Calvin seek danger or does danger seek him?
Amra Leo over 4 years ago
The bike’s got better balance than he does…
Wizard of Ahz-no relation over 4 years ago
maybe he can get charlie brown to teach him to fly a kite
A Hip loving Canadian... over 4 years ago
Oh Calvin, your fear is feeding the evil power of the bike. There must be a story out there that explains this phenomena.
Whatcouldgowrong over 4 years ago
The day I got my bike was one of the best days of my life. What a sense of liberation, freedom, independence.
redback over 4 years ago
don’t worry; most bikes are vegetarian anyway
Droptma Styx over 4 years ago
An incarnation of Bill the Cat?
verticallychallenged Premium Member over 4 years ago
Calvin – I totally understand. Me, at Calvin’s age.
gingerspike88 Premium Member over 4 years ago
“Frasier” learning to ride a bike. https://youtu.be/EYTb06bDtMc
WCraft Premium Member over 4 years ago
When I learned to ride a bike, it wasn’t the enemy. I was more afraid of “Mr. Concrete!”
joefearsnothing over 4 years ago
Calvin is definitely NOT the “Bike Whisperer”! ;o]
vaughnrl2003 Premium Member over 4 years ago
I had a similar problem with my first bike. It grabbed my pant leg, threw me down and skinned be up pretty bad. I never really did warm up to riding a bicycle.
Calvins Brother over 4 years ago
A great short story is: “The Two-Wheeled ATV” by Patrick F. McManus. His bike was also possessed.
Raymond Powell over 4 years ago
OH NO!!! Its the dreaded bike!!
kab2rb over 4 years ago
I think that is how my own mom felt about a bike, she never learned, sister and I never had trouble, now I am too stiff.
mistercatworks over 4 years ago
Should never have tried to tame a maverick.
The Comic News Team over 4 years ago
Calvin has been scared of that bike since the 90’s!
Ralph Newbill over 4 years ago
Riding a bike all summer long! Best years of my life!
KEA over 4 years ago
what’s worse, Calvin’s bike or Charlie’s kite?
Troglodyte over 4 years ago
I saw “The Unforgiven” a couple of days ago, and am chuckling remembering Clint Eastwood’s struggles with his horse.
GaryMann over 4 years ago
I am 69 years old. Though parents and friends tried to teach me while growing up, I’d never learned to ride a bike. About six years ago I took a class, and to my amazement, I was soon able to ride a bike, but only in a straight line or a biiiiiiiiiiiig circle. Turns we’re beyond me, and I learned that, while I was proud of myself for learning to ride, I really didn’t like it at all. Then there was a bad fall; I haven’t ridden since, and don’t expect to.
Next, swimming!
GaryMann over 4 years ago
I know the difference between “were” and “we’re”; autocorrect got me.
Ka`ōnōhi`ula`okahōkūmiomio`ehiku Premium Member over 4 years ago
Bet the bike is named Bessie…
donwestonmysteries over 4 years ago
Good Horsey.
hagarthehorrible over 4 years ago
A cycle can be a perfect match for a six year old. I wonder what is the case with Calvin.