Bike Retrospective

I remember very clearly the first time that I rode a bike without training wheels, when I was four or five years old. My Dad must have had a lot of faith in me because he simply jogged with me, while holding onto the back of the seat, and pushed me down down the road. The bike was an all black Huffy with a mammoth sized banana style seat. My Dad and I would later decorate it for 4th of July, and I’d ride it in the Oreland Parade.

Biking as a kid was my first true taste of freedom. It was really one of those trust bonds that you broke with your parents. Sure, I biked on down to Billy’s house four blocks away, but I didn’t tell them how we biked purposely until we were lost, or taking a wobbly ride on railroad tracks until we saw the white lights in the distance.

1987

In 1987, I was influenced by the freestyle bike craze that was happening in the burbs, and so, my parents got me a GT Performer for my birthday. I remember assuming an enormous responsibility with this bike, as it was expensive. I learned quite a few tricks with this thing and can’t believe that I was doing frame-stands down the Garden Road hill. It’s amazing that I didn’t destroy my manhood while learning how to do the “cherry picker”. (The above photo was taken from BMX Museum. My bike was actually lime green with pink tires, but was the same model as this.)

Throughout my 20s, I stuck with mountain and hybrid bikes. They were ideal for the hills of Berks County where I spent my college days, and ideal for Wissahickon Trail in Philly. I particularly had a GIANT Rincon and a GIANT Cypress.

2007

My current bike, the Bianchi San Jose, is an absolute joy to ride throughout the city. It is a single speed, super light Cross bike, that has a free wheel. The ride is ultra smooth and quiet. It is ideal for getting somewhere fast and commuting around the city. People often jump up if I momentarily ride up on them or along their side because they can’t hear it! What’s more amazing is how quickly you gain optimum speed after having to come to a dead stop. It’s way faster than my 21-speed GIANT Cypress was, void of the grip shifting that seems pointless and annoying for urban cycling.