Kabir and Ayaan were two best friends who loved riding bicycles around their neighborhood in Bangalore. But while Kabir had a brand-new, shiny bicycle, Ayaan used his old but reliable bicycle.
“Let’s have a race around the local park!” Kabir said, as he was excited to show off his new bicycle. “I’m sure I’ll win easily!”
Ayaan smiled and replied, “Racing is not just about being fast, Kabir. It’s about who can finish the race without stopping.”
Their friends gathered to watch the race. Zoya, who would start the race, raised her handkerchief and announced— “Ready… Set… GO!”
As soon as Zoya waved the handkerchief, Kabir took the lead with his brand new bicycle. He felt the wind on his face and laughed. “This is going to be easy!” he thought to himself.
But Ayaan was riding slowly and carefully. He was focused on the track, and made sure to avoid any bumps and puddles. He was in no hurry.
Soon, Kabir was much ahead than Ayaan. But then, he saw an ice cream cart. “I think I have plenty of time!” he thought and stopped to buy chocolate ice cream.
While Kabir got off his bicycle, bought the ice cream and ate it, Ayaan just kept pedaling. He did not stop when he saw a cute puppy playing or when he heard his friends cheering for him. He kept his eyes on the track and just kept going.
After finishing his ice cream, Kabir got back on his bicycle. “I can still win very easily!” he thought and pedaled as fast as he could.
But this time, Kabir was not really looking where he was going. He rode over a big pothole on the road. “Oh no!” he shouted, as he started losing balance. Kabir lost control and fell on the soft park grass. “Ouch! That hurt” he said as he rubbed his elbow.
Ayaan saw what happened and stopped. “Are you okay?” he asked Kabir. Kabir brushed the dirt off his clothes and said “I’m okay Ayaan. But I think my bicycle chain is broken.”
Ayaan got off his bicycle and helped Kabir fix the chain. “Don’t worry. we can still finish the race together,” he said with a smile.
Kabir smiled back. He also realized that he was a little overconfident. Then they got on their bicycles and rode side by side.
When they reached the finish line, their friends cheered. Zoya announced, “Ayaan wins!”
Kabir was a little disappointed. “I thought I would easily win because my bicycle is faster,” he said. Ayaan laughed. “That’s not why you lost. You lost because you got distracted and stopped, whereas I kept going,” he said.
Kabir thought for a moment and smiled. “I get it now,” he said. “Being fast is not enough to win. You have to stay focused and keep going.”
The two friends high-fived each other, happy to have learned a very valuable lesson that day.
After that day, Kabir never forgot what Ayaan said— “Just keep going.” He learned that staying focused and not getting distracted was the best way to succeed. He also learned that sometimes, going too fast can actually make you miss out on the bigger picture.
Q: Why did Kabir think he would win the race?
A: Kabir had a brand new, fast bicycle and thought that the bicycle speed was enough to help him win.
Q: How did Ayaan race differently from Kabir?
A: Ayaan was focused on the race track, and did not stop for anything. Whereas Kabir seemed to be in a rush.
Q: What mistake did Kabir make?
A: Kabir got distracted when he saw the ice cream cart and later lost control when he rode over a pothole.
Q: How did Ayaan help Kabir?
A: Ayaan stopped his bicycle only one time to check if Kabir was okay. He also helped Kabir fix his bike so they could finish the race together.
Q: What did Kabir learn?
A: Kabir learned that speed is not enough to win a race. Staying focused and not giving up is actually all that matters.
Steady Bicycle Race Challenge
Activity:
Kids will ride their bicycles around a small track. They’ll need to decide if they want to go fast like Kabir or slow and steady like Ayaan. At different spots on the track, they will stop and do fun activities like picking up a soft toy or jumping over a puddle, to help them focus and stay balanced.
Why it’s fun:
This activity helps kids understand that going too fast can cause mistakes, while staying steady and focused helps them finish the race better. It also teaches kids the importance of not rushing.
Products:
Bicycles, soft toys, cones, mats (for puddles), stopwatch.
How it Works:
Set up a short race track in an open space (e.g., the yard or park).
Place fun “focus stops” along the track where kids will do things like picking up a soft toy, touching a cone, or jumping over a puddle.
Kids ride their bicycles and decide whether to go fast or take their time at each stop.
Time the race and talk about how being steady and focused helped them finish well, just like Ayaan in the story!
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