Just like every kid in modern civilization, my parents gave me a bicycle for Christmas one year. I think it was a western auto western flyer 24". They gave my brother an identical model, but I remember it was too big for him, so they exchanged it for some odd brand called a Schwinn. It was a 20". Note that bicycles used to be sized by wheel size, instead of frame size.
I guess I outgrew that first bike and then I remember a J. C. Higgins (sears brand) 26". It was so slick. I rode the heck out that bike. We didn't know anything about keeping wheels trued and spokes tight. So they just got loose with age and wheels got more wobbly. I remember as my bike aged (maybe 3 years), it got more and more ragged. So one day, I stripped off the fenders (all bikes used to have fenders) and turned it into a really cool naked looking bike.
One of the last rides I remember on that old bike was a 10 mile ride with the scouts on the Galveston seawall. It was windy as usual and hot and I just about killed myself riding that long on that old bicycle. I remember the wheels looked like tacos and it must have been brutally difficult to ride very long. I am guessing the bearing were devoid of grease about this stage of life. I did not know anything about maintaining a bike except putting air in the tires.
Fast forward to my first year in college. My first semester in college I walked everywhere. Bicycles were not all that fashionable at that time (the boom had not hit), but I have never been one to get caught up on what's fashionable or not. My second semester I got a used "10 speed" and discovered the wonders of getting around campus much faster. I don't remember the exact history, but somewhere during my college career, I bought another brand new Raleigh Grand Prix 10 speed. This Raleigh was actually made in England. It had a gorgeous metalllic red paint with black and gold highlights. I rode all over Austin on this bike and thoroughly enjoyed it.
The bicycle was replaced by a series of motorcycles through my senior year in college. After graduating and marrying Anne, I kept buying motorcycles, but we got the bicycle bug again. Anne and I bought new Italian bicycles. Mine was a sumptions gloss black with chromed lugs. Anne had a bright green bianchi. She truly loved that bicycle. I think it was because it had smaller wheels and it really fit her well. So we cycled together. We actually rode 8 miles one day and thought we were great long distance cyclists.
Somewhere along our married life, the interest in cycling faded out. Note that we did not use helmets or special cycling clothes. We just rode in comfortable shorts and whatever casual shoes we wanted. I think we both were not up for really getting into it because our butts would eventually say "long enough". I'm ashamed to say it but we moved these bikes outside to avoid taking up space in the house. Eventually, the heat and humidity and lack of love did them in. I put them out with the trash years later.
