oldschool56

What was your first bicycle? How old were you when you got it? Mine was a 63' red road master sky rider deluxe. I was seven. My dad "custom fitted" it to me by attaching wooden blocks to the pedals. I remember a couple of years later turning the bars upside down and having drops. I wrapped them with medical tape. Born to ride!

RonH

All I remember is a red bike I got for Christmas when I was 5 y/o. My next bike my mother bought for me when I was ~9 y/o. Even though I walked everywhere (we didn't have a car) my mother thought I needed more exercise so bought me something like this. I hated it!!!


The first bike I remember was the Schwinn LeTour I bought new in 1985.

canklecat

Green Sting Ray, when I was 12. Same metallic green finish as the Impala that year (1969) which, coincidentally, I later owned as an adult. Same cream colored vinyl on the banana saddle and Impala's vinyl roof too. Odd coincidences.

Alas, the riding experience didn't live up to expectations. A single speed with poor ergonomics that defied standing on the pedals wasn't much fun beyond our flat neighborhood. And after a nut-crushing crash riding my little brother around I lost my enthusiasm for that bike. Turns out I couldn't bunny hop a curb with that extra 50 or so pounds on the back.

First bike I actually liked was my second, a Schwinn English style 3-speed. Wouldn't mind having something similar now, though I'd prefer a Nexus 8-speed, lighter aluminum frame and albatross bars.

hueyhoolihan

i was too young to remember getting my very first few bikes. but i clearly remember saving up for a metallic plum colored Schwinn Collegiate, dérailleur equipped
5-speed in about '62. i was still in grade school at the time,

i recall that my friend had the gold IGH 3-speed version and feeling disappointed that my high gear was not as high as his.

Wildwood 

When I got tall enough, I rode the old family balloon tired something or other. Took me on many journeys outside the neighborhood and beyond. I learned to be content on the road by myself 'just riding'. And made a paper route possible when fitted with huge front rack.

Crawdaddy

First new bike I got was one like that but a Huffy. My Dad bought only because I got a paper route at age 13 and HAD A JOB! Before that handme downs from my older brothers so none stand out.

Hardrock23

I barely remember my first bike, but I do remember the day I learned to ride it without training wheels. I have a picture but I still don't remember the actual bike. It was early 90's, maybe around 93 or so. It was most likely from Sears or the like.

Nature666

It was at my primary school, my home is far way from schook, so my bad bought me a bike, it's a very expensive and famous brand bike at that time, it costs my father's one month salary. LOVE MY DAD!

jon c. 

I remember that as well. Don't remember the bike I was riding, but I remember cruising up the driveway completely under my own power. What a thrill. But a brief one as we hadn't covered the stopping part and the ride ended in a collision with the garage door.

But there was no harm done and once you've got it, you've got it. I knew how to ride.

First bike I really remember was a second hand stingray with the spring shock on the front. Painted rattle can gold.

AzDzrtRat

The early bikes I can't really remember well. When I was about 9 my dad bought one of the Stingray bicycles in purple. Pretty much the same experience as the above poster. The seat posts broke several times and it ended up abandoned in the garage.

Hardrock23

Oh no lol. But yes, what a thrill!

Thankfully I knew how to brake already but thinking back on it now, my father could have started me off up the court, rather than down the court towards the main road...just in case. I'm living in the same place again so I'll need to keep this all in mind as we (hopefully) ditch the training wheels this summer on my sons bike!

Bike Life

I had a small (20 in wheel?) Western Flyer when I was small then got a 26 in wheel Schwinn Typhoon when I was 10 and I rode that for 3 or 4 years. Never had another bike till I was 38.

cookingjnj

Candy Apple Red and white vinyl banana seat Sting-Ray. Don't recall the year, but probably '70 or '71. Canklecat above describes his as a single speed, I recall mine being a 5 speed with the car like shifter located on the top tube.

bikemig 

My parents bought me a green 3 speed robin hood when I was 8 or so. I rode that bike everywhere in 3d, 4th, and 5th grades. I don't have that bike but I did pick up a black 3 speed robin hood from 1969 recently. It brings back great memories.

Champlaincycler

I come from a large family and there weren't many bikes. When I was 7-8 yrs old, my mom saved plaid stamps from A&P for a year to trade in for a bicycle for me. I think it was 36 books worth. When I think of how much she needed and what she could have gotten instead its pretty touching. I guess what she needed most was to have a happy kid.

supton

I think my first bike was the one I learned how to ride sans training wheels. I must have been 10? I think it had a banana seat, definately a coaster brake. I think dad found it at the dump. Later it snapped the frame, he tried a quick braze job but it was toast. I forget if the next bike was a Shimano 3 speed, or a Huffy, they all blend together, and none stand out. Although I must have liked that 333 hub enough as today I have a fondness for SA AW's.

martianone

My folks got me a bike for my birthday in 1960, a red beast from the local western auto. It was a little too big, but I grew into it pretty quickly. Rode it all over. Felt like I had been given a set of wings, wings of wheels.

Fastfingaz

Hey cankelcat how long did it take you to decide to write banana saddle as opposed to banana seat, just don't sound right ,you're feeling the pressure ain't ya,,,,

canklecat

LOL! I knew someone was gonna catch that!

Fastfingaz

[QUOTE=canklecat;19565262]LOL! I knew someone was gonna catch that! [/QUbyOTE]

LOL you know I was just joking,,,, sometimes if you don't use the right cycle speak around here they'll tear you up,,,,,

stpetebeach

i dont remember riding a bike before mid school, the one i do remember was on my 16th bday 93 My family all chipped in and bought me a BMW bike, Dyno VFR. We had 3-4 BMW tracks in area so i road it alot. Just now riding a bike after alot of years lol

DrIsotope

Mine was a Team Murray BMX from around '79-80, I would have been 7 or 8. Chrome with blue accents. Rode it for 3-4 years, absolutely no idea what happened to it after. That was followed by a Univega Alpina Sport in '83 or so, rode it pretty much every day until it got stolen from outside the hobby shop in (I want to say) '87.