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Question What was your first bicycle? We're sharing stories!

SHaines

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I was the third of four kids growing up. Pretty much everything I had was "gifted" by one of my older brothers, my first bicycle included. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures from those days, but I remember it was a Schwinn with a massive banana seat that my 7 year old brain was very embarrassed by. I only had that one a couple years before I finally got my hands on a second-hand BMX bike that I thought was the coolest thing in the entire world.

So, what were your first bikes? How long did you keep it? Bonus points if you have pics to share!

In addition to the joy of telling tales of bicycles from yesteryear, we're also giving away a Cycling News water bottles to three randomly selected folks in the US or UK who post answers.

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-Reply to this thread with the story of your first bicycle.

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Just a kid's bike... think the most significant "first bike" for me was the point when my older sister and I reached the point where we used (almost) the same bike size, so I had to get my own instead of just inheriting hers.
If I recall correctly, when my younger sister grew out of the kid's bike, she then ended up inheriting from our older sister. (But memory's a bit fuzzy…)
 
Just a kid's bike... think the most significant "first bike" for me was the point when my older sister and I reached the point where we used (almost) the same bike size, so I had to get my own instead of just inheriting hers.
If I recall correctly, when my younger sister grew out of the kid's bike, she then ended up inheriting from our older sister. (But memory's a bit fuzzy…)
Yeah, right... and Chekhov is your father...

How many of RhDs are there?
 
My sister who often complains about having to wear my old stuff (and my brother's, since she's the youngest), later rode one of my bikes until it almost fell to pieces, I think. Oh well, sometimes it's nice to be the oldest... ;) I think my brother is still riding one of my old bikes. But he asked for it!

Well, I think my first bike was light blue. I don't really have memories of it, but I remember my parents later pulling it out of nowhere for my son and then there was a feeling like... "hey, yeah, I know you!" I had stabilisers for some time. (I later learned you should better not use them, well.) Then one afternoon me and my very best friend were supposed to learn how to ride without them. Therefor our parents went to an empty parking lot with us. My friend learned it very quickly, but I - didn't. Very disappointing and also shameful. The next day my father went there with me alone and suddenly it was easy. What a relief!
Well, I don't remember how long I had this blue bike, I think it was pretty small and can't imagine I still had it when I got into school...
 
Christmas 1967--a red Firestone "Stingray" bike with a glittery banana seat and Harley-chopper-style handlebars, and chrome fenders. Single speed, pedal brakes. No training wheels. I was six (1st grade in school). I learned to ride on that bike and rode it till the rims and frame began rusting out when I was in 5th grade (early 70s), and my parents got me a Schwinn.
 
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I started out on an old, used, yellow Schwinn that had a banana seat and attached sissy bar. Although, like all little kids do sometimes, I left it unlocked and unattended outside my house overnight and woke up to see that it had been stolen. Where I grew up that was to be expected so that was the end of my bicycle riding until years later when I could work for some money and buy a Specialized Rockhopper Comp, which at the time was before mountain biking was mainstream and still open to ride single-track in places like Yosemite National Park, which of course is now closed except for paved valley trails and has been for many years.
 
I can't remember my first bike as a kid, but all my bikes were secondhand.

The first bike I bought for myself, also secondhand, was a 6 speed road bike. Can't remember the model, but it was an Orbit with 501 Reynolds tubing. Hence my username :)

In fact, of the three road bikes I own now, two are secondhand, and one I built up myself. I've never owned a brand new off the shelf bike in my life. I like it that way.
 

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