Do you remember the first time you learned to bike on your own? Remember how ecstatic you were? My first experience was in fourth grade. I had just inherited my late grandfather's very old, almost antique bycycle. Of course it still felt like a brand new, really expensive gift at the time.
I still vividly remember the first time I was able to ride on my own. My other grandfather was visiting at the time and I made him come out on the street to watch how a 4 foot tall boy rides a full size adult bike. If you grew up in India, you would know how. All kids use this trick called "kaichi" or scissor. You just put your right leg through the triangle of the frame to reach the pedal on the other side and try to balance the bike at the same time. Imagine that!
It is quite a trick for a child to learn and I was so proud to have learned it. Countless beatings and rashes that both my knees had taken didn't matter any more, because you know what? I was the master of my domain. :).
Cycling has stayed with me ever since. Let me count... two, three......, hmmmmm, well, wait......yes, I have had eight bicycles so far. Eight bicycles in four countries. Interesting enough for you yet? During last 2-3 years, I gave my cycling life a new twist. No, it was not Lance Armstrong. It was inspiration from my local bikers. I also wanted to zip zap at 50mph (downhill of course) like them, clad in lycra, looking all cool. I didn't have the equipment, but I had the drive and the dream. And so I joined Harpeth Bicycle Club in Brentwood, Tennessee. Pretty soon, one could see me trying despearately to hang at the back of the pack with my tongue hanging out of my mouth.
Almost a year into riding, I had accumulated more than 2000 miles on my hard-tail mtb. I had been slowly inching my way to realizing my dream of getting a real road bike. With no $$$ to shell out on a brand new one, putting one together myself or buying a used one were my only bets. I preferred the former. And so was it that I bought my first road bike frame used on Ebay. A 1996 Cannondale 2.8 lbs frame for $178.00. I was stoked. That Xmas, I bought most of the remaining parts for the bike. In January 2007, Candy was born. She's still with me, ever so strong, ever so light.
Continued....
Just added (September 19, 2009):
Apparantly my parents remember more than I do about my bicycles and my mischiefs. Don't they always? They read my blog and pointed out that the bicycle I had inherited was a Hudson model from 1930s. Boy, do I wish it was still with me. That would have been one helluva bike.
Another snippet I was enlightened with by my mother was, how I used my only tricycle, a gift from my aunt. As it turns out, I would take it to sand, put it upside down and play "mill" trying to grind sand with my new found mill driven by pedals. I am sure you're like, what? Yeah, I still have no clue why did that.
By now, you probably think I am some kind of nutcase. There may be some truth to that, seeing how crazy I still am about bicycles. Stay tuned for more bike p0rn. Wink wink!
Just added (September 19, 2009):
Apparantly my parents remember more than I do about my bicycles and my mischiefs. Don't they always? They read my blog and pointed out that the bicycle I had inherited was a Hudson model from 1930s. Boy, do I wish it was still with me. That would have been one helluva bike.
Another snippet I was enlightened with by my mother was, how I used my only tricycle, a gift from my aunt. As it turns out, I would take it to sand, put it upside down and play "mill" trying to grind sand with my new found mill driven by pedals. I am sure you're like, what? Yeah, I still have no clue why did that.
By now, you probably think I am some kind of nutcase. There may be some truth to that, seeing how crazy I still am about bicycles. Stay tuned for more bike p0rn. Wink wink!
I remember the first time i biked, I kept biking and biking all summer around our resident complex :) but we used to rent a bicycle :( and couldn't afford to ride it more than 1 hr everyday!!
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