u/Bridge_The_Person

I love reading! But I'm bummed that my last four books I've really not enjoyed. My favorite books are historical non-fiction, but I also like a lot of modern fiction books. Favorites include anything by Charles C. Mann and David Grann, and my last five fiction books I've enjoyed this year are Lonesome Dove, House on the Cerulean Sea, Project Hail Mary, and Remarkably Bright Creatures.

I'm really bummed - I very much did not enjoy Naked by David Sedaris (felt too out there and random), 11/22/63 by Steven King (I know this is an unpopular take but I can't handle the writing style), Operation Bounce House by Dinnimen(felt like it jolted between relentlessly violent and trying to get us to care for characters) and Something to do with Paying Attention by Wallace (short, but just didn't love the mundanity of it, which I know is sort of the point).

Please help! Would love any recommendations.

Tried to teach the 4 and 6 year old to learn to ride a bike last summer. Bought those REI co-op bikes that are the heaviest things ever invented.

Tried around 5 or 6 times but between coaster brakes and the things being anchors, kids couldn't get going on them to even really start the process with traditional training wheels or use them as balance bikes without pedals for more contemporary training.

I love bikes, grew up mountain biking and did a ton of urban commuting in the last 10 years.

What I'm seeing now is the following: Department store bikes are as bad as they always were, Guardian bikes are a scam that are unfixable after your kids inevitably crash them into stuff, buy Woom or Prevelop.

These Woom and Prevelo bikes are like $500-$700 my guys. I'd prefer not to do that, but if if that's what it takes I suppose I'll adjust - but at those prices why aren't we just buying things like Cannondales for the kids that are really well established brands we trust?

Tell me your thoughts - kids are on board with anything, we'll be doing bicycle clinic a couple times a week over the summer working towards a reward camping trip in August to the coast with some great flat routes.