Did you have a bike when you were a kid? I always did. It was an extension to my body. Throughout the years I have owned several bikes. I think I started off with a tricycle. At least I assume I did. There is no evidence of this, but it just seems like the natural choice for a 2 or 3 year old. The next bike I remember was a second hand bike from the local bike shop. It had a banana seat and everyone thought that was really cool. Then I grew into my BMX years.



I loved my BMX. All my friends had one and we did cool things to decorate them. Mine had BMX pads that went across the handlebars and on the main body bar (the proper name alludes me right now). The pads were grey and burgundy and had the BMX checker flag on them. We would ride up to an area that had lots of mud and hills to do tricks. Our favourite activity besides hanging out on our bikes was to see who could make the longest skid. You would go down the street to work up some speed, and then smash the pedals backwards to make the longest skid possible on the gravel shoulders. Then when you reached the end you did the required foot down and swing the back tire out to make a swoosh.



My next bike was a mountain bike I think. I bought it with my paper route money that I had saved. After owning it for a month it was stolen out of the driveway. Who steals a bike in our town? It is so safe there that our neighbors didn't even lock their house when they went on vacation. Anyway, when we finally noticed the bike was missing my Dad and I hopped in the massive brown Ford LTD and scoured the neighborhood. Without any luck we called the cops and filed the report and they did nothing.



With the insurance money I stepped up to bike ownership again and bought a Norco bike. The model was Kokanee (just like the beer, not sure which came first though). I still use it now even though it is a little small for me and seen some pretty bad days. This bike got a branch caught in the front wheel and bucked me off like a bronco. The wheels and brakes are stilled messed from the accident and no matter how many times I true the wheels they still aren't straight. The impact of me hitting the ground broke my arm. It didn't hurt too much. At the time I though it was really cool because when I put my arm down and lifted it, it bent in a new third place.



Maybe it's time for a bike. I was thinking that I want to compete in a triathlon. Not that I am ready for it, maybe in a couple of years. I guess I can’t get a new bike until I have a new adventure planned for it.