Today, August 1, is Theme Day across the world-wide CDP (citydailyphoto) blog community. Can you think of an image that better encapsulates a warm August summer day than a bike ready for action? Sure you could, but you'd be hard-pressed to find a better one. I still remember the afternoon in July that I got my brand new JC Higgins model. Bright red with silver fenders, I was the envy of the neighborhood. Ok, I made that last sentence up in my imagination, but I envied myself, if it is possible do that. It had front and rear hand brakes, and I bet I rode it up and down Stevens practicing using them hundreds of times. It was a work bike. When I got my paper route, I put wire baskets on the back able to lug 75 newspapers through the neighborhood. It was a fun bike. Back then, we did everything it seemed and went everywhere on our bicycles. Night or day, rain or snow or hot blazing sun, we had them with us. It was my friend. I'm not exaggerating either. We were inseparable. I fell in love with it. It was a big boy bike. With silver fenders, white-wall tires, silver light on the front, a comfortable seat and a little, black, faux leather pouch hanging off the seat for 'secret stuff', we were made for each other. It served me well all through those growing up years. Well, at least until I got my Honda. Then it was bye-bye.
Best friends.
Through the good days and the not so good.
The not so good days?
Rainy days.
But then again, rain and bikes were fun too.
Boys, bikes and rain: an entirely different dimension.
For you and many more of us a bike certainly captures memories of childhood.
ReplyDeleteA basket always adds so much intrigue! I can just see you delivering papers. Charming!
ReplyDeleteJanis
GDP
i put a lot of miles on bikes as a kid on wisconsin gravel roads and a few paved highways, too. :) lovely image.
ReplyDeleteI had a 3-speed hand-me-down from my brothers--slow,slower and slowest.
ReplyDeleteGreat ode. From age five to fifteen, I practically lived on bikes.
ReplyDeleteenjoyed the story you added to your post ... this theme day is bringing back lots of good memories from days gone bye
ReplyDeleteI learned to bike a bit later than most- I was probably nine when I started, and for years I would bike regularly.
ReplyDeleteMy bike wouldn't have been the envy of anyone but, it sure was my ticket to my first taste of freedom. I rode it all over town to places I wasn't supposed to go and to other places. It gave me such a feeling of independence.
ReplyDeleteYes! I did the same thing.
DeleteI'll agree with you there. Got to school, the library, DHS football games, the best penny candy store even once or twice to caddying at Riverside
DeleteI was never lucky enough to have a bike with handbrakes or gears until I was an adult. It never slowed me down though! ;-)
ReplyDeleteI am back again with a different message. Based on our conversation several days ago, you need to read this: http://www.startribune.com/streetscapes-dinkytown-manages-to-stay-weird-despite-change/320296861/
ReplyDeleteI'm losing sleep over your definition: never thought I lived a sheltered life, but don't understand what makes you "blush?!"
There was a time when I rode my bicycle to work also with the rain: ever tried driving with one hand keeping an umbrella with the other? It was quite common here... Not in windy rain, obviously!
ReplyDeleteOh, I thoroughly enjoyed that little reminisce, BM. And to answer your rhetorical question: yes, I think it is possible to envy yourself. The idea is very appealing. Sure beats the heck out of boasting.
ReplyDeleteAh yes, your story of your first bike is just fine. My first bike was a brown and cream colored, balloon tire Schwinn. It wasn't the high end model, but a standard bike without simulated gas tank and electric horn. We lived on a gravel road, and the bike negotiated the gravel just fine, but I used to ride it a mile over to a place where there were paved roads where it rolled so much more easily.
ReplyDeleteOh I wish I could envy myself. Now I won't be able to sleep.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you couldn't have asked for much more.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful visual and narrated image!!
ReplyDeleteGreat shot and I enjoyed your story too.
ReplyDeleteMy first (actually my only) bike was an English racing bike with three---count them, three!---gears. I felt like I could fly anywhere.
ReplyDeleteLove your story about your treasured bike Birdman.. My bike memories all relate to school, riding to school, it was a very social thing catching up with friends and chatting on the way.
ReplyDeleteLove your story about your treasured bike Birdman.. My bike memories all relate to school, riding to school, it was a very social thing catching up with friends and chatting on the way.
ReplyDeleteAn entertaining post for theme day. Nice photograph and amusing story to go with it. Happy days.
ReplyDeleteLove your childhood memories. A bike can be a way to freedom for young people. Nice choice for the theme day.
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