Do you remember your first bicycle?

[Drm50]

It was a big deal back when I was a kid to go on bike hikes. It was one of our favorite trips to go up the back roads to Key, Ohio and get on St Rt 147. From Key to Bellaire which was down on Ohio River. Hardly any peddling was required and the last 5 miles was all down hill and full of hair pin turns. You had to be careful you didn't burn up on re entry. We all had regular bikes except one kid who had a English bike with hand rakes and gear shift. Kid was a bit of a show off with his fancy bike. Anyway going down that last 5 mi hill he was passing other kids. He went into one of those hair pins at about warp 56 and downshifted and his chain came off.
He layed into the hand brakes about the time he hit the ditch. It threw him off in the briars but it still sticks in my mind it was amazing how far up in the air that bike went.

 

[notsofast]

The bikes with the shifters, hand brakes and skinny tires we called "English racers". I had a candy apple red Schwinn Stingray 20". Pleated banana seat mid rise ape hangers, solid bike it only occasionally needed tires.

 

[Frank46]

My dad worked for the Long Island railroad as an electrician and he never made all that much money. So started collecting old bikes that people left out for the garbage man. After about getting 8 semi complete bikes I sat down and started to see what fit what. Found a front wheel that fit the frame I had chosen. Down to the 7th rear wheel with gear,sproket and chain. And I basically had a functional bike. Had to disassemble the rear wheel cause the breakes didn't do so well.Took it to a local bike shop and the old man told me what the problem was. It needed new break shoes. And not having any money. As I started out the door he asked if I was interested in helping him clean out the shop. I said yes and for the next two weeks after school we dragged out all the old bikes that were junk and dumped them in a huge dumpster. Then same with the old tires. And just about anything he wanted to get rid of.After two weeks he handed me the old rim with the new shoes installed. Balletties bike shop on Jamaica avenue in Queens county NYC. Frank

 

[Alk8944]

Christmas 1953 or 54, Red 26" Schwinn Spitfire just like this one except the color was more vivid. Suspect So Fla Natives bike had spent lots of time in the hot sun by the time his photo was taken!

 

[pmanton]

I wanted a Schwinn with a tank but had to make do with a Rollfast.
Probably 1946-48 or so.

 

[427mach1]

We were so poor growing up my parents could only afford one wheel so I had to settle for this..... Still have it after 40+ years!

 

[88IROC]

My first was a red Dunelt, 20" wheels and hand brake. As other have alluded to, we called 'em "English bikes" because of the relatively thin 1 3/8" tires. My second bike was a Schwinn Traveller, black with chrome fenders, hand brakes and a 3 speed Sturmey Archer gear set. Next was a white Raleigh Record, my first 10 speed. I added aftermarket center pull brakes and Shimano shifters and derailleurs. After that came a silver Schwinn Le Tour which I rode for 18 years. My current ride is a blue Cannondale T900 which will be twenty next June. I keep telling myself it'st time to trade again but I haven't seen anything I like better.