How old were you when you first started bicycling?
03-16-11, 03:03 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Portland, Maine USA
Posts: 779
Bikes: Trek 850 Antelope
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
How old were you when you first started bicycling?
How old were you or what was your age when you started bicycling?
By this, I mean riding a bicycle...and not a stationary exercise bicycle.
I just thought I'd ask. I was seven when I started. How about anyone else?
By this, I mean riding a bicycle...and not a stationary exercise bicycle.
I just thought I'd ask. I was seven when I started. How about anyone else?
03-16-11, 03:06 PM
#2
aka Phil Jungels
Five! On two wheels, never even knew about training wheels.
03-16-11, 03:08 PM
#3
Full Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Orangeville, Ontario
Posts: 388
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
i've been biking for as long as i can remember. i can remember riding around the block at my grandparents place on a tricycle and taking my training wheel off my bike when i was 5 or 6 all by myself.
03-16-11, 03:09 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Evansville, IN
Posts: 782
Bikes: 73 Raleigh Supercourse, 99 Specialized Stumpjumer, 08 LeMond Tourmalet
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
My training wheels came off at 2. I had couple of cousins who spent a day teaching me to ride.
Fast forward 38 years ... I started riding for health and sport about 4 years ago.
Fast forward 38 years ... I started riding for health and sport about 4 years ago.
03-16-11, 04:54 PM
#5
Banned
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,788
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Preschool.
Dad brought home an old cruiser-style bike, 16" wheels, been brush-painted baby blue; no training wheels, took me 2 seconds to fall off. I still have the memory of Dad riding it perfectly straight down Grandma's front sidewalk, to show me the bike was fine, no problems.... He got training wheels for it, I rode it, eventually they came back off, and the REAL riding started...with the next bike, a Schwinn Stingray.
Dad brought home an old cruiser-style bike, 16" wheels, been brush-painted baby blue; no training wheels, took me 2 seconds to fall off. I still have the memory of Dad riding it perfectly straight down Grandma's front sidewalk, to show me the bike was fine, no problems.... He got training wheels for it, I rode it, eventually they came back off, and the REAL riding started...with the next bike, a Schwinn Stingray.
03-16-11, 06:48 PM
#6
Pedaled too far.
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: La Petite Roche
Posts: 12,851
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
7 Posts
I taught myself to ride a bike at age 5 1/2, inspired by reading Curious George Rides A Bike. I figured if he could do it, I could learn. I went to the house of a girl I knew and borrowed her bike (no training wheels) and practiced in her driveway for a couple of hours till I knew how to start, stop and steer. I picked a girls bike because I figured it would be easier than dealing with the top tube of a boys bike.
Then for my 6th birthday, my Dad got me this. It was way too large;
and I had to learn all over again. Start by standing on a stool and stop by crashing; and that kind of thing.
Then for my 6th birthday, my Dad got me this. It was way too large;
and I had to learn all over again. Start by standing on a stool and stop by crashing; and that kind of thing.
__________________
"He who serves all, best serves himself" Jack London
03-16-11, 07:40 PM
#8
Tortoise Wins by a Hare!
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Looney Tunes, IL
Posts: 7,398
Bikes: Wabi Special FG, Raleigh Roper, Nashbar AL-1, Miyata One Hundred, '70 Schwinn Lemonator and More!!
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1549 Post(s)
Liked 941 Times
in
504 Posts
I was 6 and my grandparents got me and my 5 year old brother 20 inch wheeled bikes from Sears. We quickly mastered sideways power skids in the gravel. 
A couple years later Stingrays were all the rage, so Dad brought home ape hanger bars and banana seats to convert our bikes. Best Dad Ever.
When he brought home Wammo wheelie bars Mom put her foot down and said no way. No problem, we quickly mastered proper wheelies.
A couple years later Stingrays were all the rage, so Dad brought home ape hanger bars and banana seats to convert our bikes. Best Dad Ever.
When he brought home Wammo wheelie bars Mom put her foot down and said no way. No problem, we quickly mastered proper wheelies.
03-16-11, 07:44 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SF Bay Area, East bay
Posts: 7,662
Bikes: Miyata 618 GT, Marinoni, Kestral 200 2002 Trek 5200, KHS Flite, Koga Miyata, Schwinn Spitfire 5, Mondia Special, Univega Alpina, Miyata team Ti, Santa Cruz Highball
Mentioned: 53 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1610 Post(s)
Liked 2,593 Times
in
1,225 Posts
Curious George? Did your girl freind wear a yellow dress?
03-16-11, 08:06 PM
#11
Twilight Requiem
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Lonely Mountain
Posts: 461
Bikes: TrekFX
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Big wheel until age 4 and then Dad brought home a used Schwinn Stingray that was a groovy green color. The shifter was awesome but it was clunky and pretty rough to shift. When you would go through the gears it made a loud "CLACK! CLACK! CLACK!" sound. I remember tryin to shift on the move like my big brother on his 10 speed and dumped it right there in the driveway. (Ahhhhhh! Pfffffffffft Ahhhhhhh! Pfffffffft Ahhhhhhh!)
On my 8th Birthday I got a brand new Huffy BMX dirt bike from the K-mart store. I recall being totally stoked by the knobby tires, pads and whole "dirt bike" feel about it.
Good times man.. good times.
On my 8th Birthday I got a brand new Huffy BMX dirt bike from the K-mart store. I recall being totally stoked by the knobby tires, pads and whole "dirt bike" feel about it.
Good times man.. good times.
03-16-11, 08:34 PM
#12
In Real Life
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Down under down under
Posts: 52,152
Bikes: Lots
Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3203 Post(s)
Liked 596 Times
in
329 Posts
I got a tricycle at 3 or 4 and a two-wheeler at 6. I'm not sure they had stationary bicycles back then!! 
__________________
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
03-16-11, 09:32 PM
#13
Pedaled too far.
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: La Petite Roche
Posts: 12,851
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
7 Posts
What five year old boy notices the color of a dress a girl is wearing? I was just lucky there weren't too many cooties on the bike. 
__________________
"He who serves all, best serves himself" Jack London
03-16-11, 09:56 PM
#15
Senior Member
Probably around 6, before then I'd ride up and down the street on my Big Wheel pulling on the brake to slide to a stop. I think my first bike with training wheels had solid tires.
I remember my dad did the final assembly himself on my first tiny BMX type bike without training wheels but forgot to tighten the handlebars and they popped right off causing me to wipeout on our gravel driveway. I thought it was pretty funny. No one wore helmets back then, and we had real lawn darts, ah the good old days.
I remember my dad did the final assembly himself on my first tiny BMX type bike without training wheels but forgot to tighten the handlebars and they popped right off causing me to wipeout on our gravel driveway. I thought it was pretty funny. No one wore helmets back then, and we had real lawn darts, ah the good old days.
03-16-11, 10:17 PM
#16
born again cyclist
I got my first big wheel when I was 2 or 3.
I got an even more b!tching big wheel when I was 4.
When I was 5 my older sister taught me to ride her old schwinn two-wheeler.
I rode her old schwinn until I was 7 and got a Columbia dirt bike from sears. Getting my own bike instead of riding my sister's old hand me down bike was easily one of the best days of my entire childhood.
I got an even more b!tching big wheel when I was 4.
When I was 5 my older sister taught me to ride her old schwinn two-wheeler.
I rode her old schwinn until I was 7 and got a Columbia dirt bike from sears. Getting my own bike instead of riding my sister's old hand me down bike was easily one of the best days of my entire childhood.
Last edited by Steely Dan; 03-16-11 at 10:21 PM.
03-17-11, 04:18 AM
#18
Membership Not Required
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: On the road-USA
Posts: 16,855
Bikes: Giant Excursion, Raleigh Sports, Raleigh R.S.W. Compact, Motobecane? and about 20 more! OMG
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 70 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 15 Times
in
14 Posts
Five or six, learned to ride by coasting down the hill and crashing into the neighbor's carport...good thing the car wasn't there.
First bike was a "curb special" that my dad will have picked out of the trash and rebuilt and repainted for me. IIRC it was white frame with gold accents, 20" wheels no fenders. Have to see if there is a picture somewhere.
Then went a couple of years without a decent bike. First new bike was when I was 10 and it was a red Western Flyer base model. Wore that puppy out!
Aaron
First bike was a "curb special" that my dad will have picked out of the trash and rebuilt and repainted for me. IIRC it was white frame with gold accents, 20" wheels no fenders. Have to see if there is a picture somewhere.
Then went a couple of years without a decent bike. First new bike was when I was 10 and it was a red Western Flyer base model. Wore that puppy out!
Aaron
__________________
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Last edited by wahoonc; 03-17-11 at 04:34 PM.
03-17-11, 06:31 AM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 8,951
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 14 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 13 Times
in
12 Posts
Ya know, pretty much 5 like everybody else. I got serious about road riding for a period in high school, then again for a time in graduate school after I got my license suspended for speeding on my motorcycle and I inherited a road bike from my GF's roomate :-** Then again much later in life, ~14 years ago till now...
03-17-11, 06:44 AM
#20
Peripheral Visionary
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Jax, FL
Posts: 1,157
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
5 Posts
I don't remember exactly, but I was about 5 when I recall taking the training wheels off and going face down into the mud and water. For some reason I remember feeling awesome and happy that I rode as long as I did.
03-17-11, 09:21 AM
#21
Full Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Orangeville, Ontario
Posts: 388
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Five or six, learned to ride by coasting down the hill and crashing into the neighbor's carport...good thing the car wasn't there.
First bike was a "curb special" that my day will have picked out of the trash and rebuilt and repainted for me. IIRC it was white frame with gold accents, 20" wheels no fenders. Have to see if there is a picture somewhere.
Then went a couple of years without a decent bike. First new bike was when I was 10 and it was a red Western Flyer base model. Wore that puppy out!
Aaron
First bike was a "curb special" that my day will have picked out of the trash and rebuilt and repainted for me. IIRC it was white frame with gold accents, 20" wheels no fenders. Have to see if there is a picture somewhere.
Then went a couple of years without a decent bike. First new bike was when I was 10 and it was a red Western Flyer base model. Wore that puppy out!
Aaron
03-17-11, 09:44 AM
#22
Fat Guy Rolling
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Louisville Kentucky
Posts: 2,434
Bikes: Bacchetta Agio, 80s Raleigh Record single-speed, Surly Big Dummy
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I started riding so young I don't remember it. First a tricycle, then a bike with training wheels. I do remember the first time I rode down my grandparents driveway without training wheels. I was very excited. I quit riding when I turned 18 and didn't start again for nearly 20 years.
My daughter didn't start riding until she was 7, but that's because she had an over-protective mother. She's an adult now, and rides occasionally for transportation. She doesn't have a car.
My daughter didn't start riding until she was 7, but that's because she had an over-protective mother. She's an adult now, and rides occasionally for transportation. She doesn't have a car.
03-17-11, 10:25 AM
#23
Intrepid Bicycle Commuter
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 819
Bikes: 1976 Motobecane Grand Jubile, Austro Daimler 'Ultima', 2012 Salsa Vaya, 2009 Trek 4300, Fyxation Eastside, State Matte Black 6, '97 Trek 930 SHX, '93 Specialized Rockhopper, 1990 Trek 950
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 76 Post(s)
Liked 94 Times
in
34 Posts
I moved from a tricycle to a bicycle around age 3. The training wheels came off at age 4.
Bicycles have stuck with me throughout my entire life. To this day, I have never had a drivers license.
Bicycles have stuck with me throughout my entire life. To this day, I have never had a drivers license.
03-17-11, 10:34 AM
#24
Infamous Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 24,360
Bikes: Surly Big Dummy, Fuji World, 80ish Bianchi
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
3 Posts
4 - which means if I live another 2 1/2 years (and planet X and the mayans don't take us all out next year) I'll have been doing it for half a century!
__________________
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
