My senior year of high school, a somewhat local bike shop opened a season location in our mall for the Christmas season. I managed to get a job there as a salesman. I learned about bikes from the other salesmen and the manager. A few months after the store closed, I spoke to the manager and got a 2002 Giant OCR3 just above cost (she treated me really well considering I was no longer an employee!). It took a few years of just tooling around on it until the cycling bug really hit. Then as upgraditis took hold, I wanted the most return on my investments so I rode more. And built more bikes. And rode more. I was crazy about it. I had a beautiful cycling partner, she kept me motivated. Then she got married. Then I got married. Then the kids came. And now, I struggle to ride 500 miles a year. I still love everything about the sport and cherish every mile because of the work it takes to get them in!