Cycling – a great family activity in our community
Posted October 9, 2008 by John T. Ryan
Peru is a young, family-oriented community. It’s almost impossible to drive through town and not see several walkers, joggers or cyclists. Nicki LaPlante is one of those people who enjoy biking and she adds to her enjoyment by taking along her three year old daughter Simone in a bicycle carriage. Nicki said, “I started using the carriage when Simone and my son Peter were about a year old. Prior to that I used a jogger stroller. I try to stay on the quiet roads.” A one-time college cycling team member Nicki explained, “It’s good resistance exercise and I want to encourage our kids to have an interest in the same hobbies that my husband Andrew and I do. On a bike you also get to know the whole area on an intimate level.”
Nicki tries to ride at least once a week and usually goes about fifteen to twenty miles. She says, “Simone will sit patiently for about an hour. She starts shaking the carriage when she’s had enough.” Yesterday, they traveled through town, down Bear Swamp Road, Telegraph Street and Sullivan Road. During berry picking season NIcki sometimes mounts a tag-a-long behind her bike seat, places her son Peter in it, hooks up the bike carriage for Simone and the three of them ride to Rulf’s to pick berries. Sweet Treat is another popular LaPlante family destination. Nicki said, “We’re even being ecologically conscious. We don’t get in a car to get to Sweet Treat and we burn off the ice cream when we’re riding home.” (More photos)
Posted: October 9th, 2008 under General News.