Learned to ride a bicycle around 5 years old. As I recall it was a girls bike from the family living behind us across the alley. I had to push it up the sidewalk to a fire hydrant at the corner to get on, it was tall for me but did not have a top tube to contend with.
The next bike came at Christmas around 6 years old. Cool bike with a removable top tube so it could be for a boy or girl. Crashed it pretty early on and bent it enough so the removable top tube would not stay in place. Back to riding a "girls" bike. I must have ridden it a long while because the next memorable bike was a 26" Murray bike with fenders and coaster brake. Black red and chrome way cool! At some point I was given a Varoom motor made by Mattel Toys. Not an actual motor but a plastic, battery powered noise maker which looked and souned like a motorcycle engine. Wore it completely out. This bike was transformed into a giant "Sting Ray" with the $$ help of my Dad and Mom. What I mean is I REALLY wanted a Scwhinn Sting Ray, way too much $$ but was willing to settle for a JC Pennies something or other that looked like a Schwinn. What I ended up with was a pair of high rise handlebars and a huge banana seat to add to my 26" wheel Murray. The chain guard, fenders, reflectors and anything else not essential to my bike were removed and permanently discarded. Cool bike and the start of my bicycle mechanicing(?). Did all the work by myself.
I rode and loved this bike a long time. My first bike club adventure came sometime in here. We went to a Catholic church within walking (bike riding) distance of home. There was a priest from Ireland who was into riding bikes. He started a riding club leaving from the school/church/ rectory/convent parking lot early on Saturday. I would show up on my big sting ray and marvel at the bikes. I told my parents I wanted to join. They said OK, the priest in charge said I was too youg. Mom or Dad convinced them I could do it. It was worked out and I had several outings with Hearts Wheelers!! Big stuff for an 11 year old.
As Jay would say...........more later.
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