Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Gone With The Schwinn

A couple of years ago, I decided to buy a bike. And by bike I mean a pedal bike. I have a motorcycle license but that's another story altogether.

There are some awesome bike trails around me, and I've always wanted to bike the Great River Road. Maddy and Kelli used to ride their bikes all over the neighborhood. I recently found out that Kelli took Maddy on a pretty long ride once upon a time, involving ice cream and riding where I told them not to. But hey, what am I supposed to do now, ground them?

Kelli and Maddy's bikes have gears and hand brakes and pegs and all kinds of whatnot. I wanted a bike - wheels, pedals, handlebars, and maybe a basket for my water bottle. I found a very lovely little red basic bike, and was told in no uncertain terms that if I rode that, they would not ride with me. I would be an embarassment and all their friends would point and laugh. I'm sure they meant they would point and laugh. I was also called Pee Wee. Pee Wee had a pretty cool bike, as I recall.

Anyway, things happened and I never bought the bike.

Now that we've moved, Maddy is tearing around the neighborhood on one of her three bikes (hers, Kelli's, or Craig's old Dyno). She asked me when I was going to get a bike, and I said, soon.

Apparently "soon" came on Sunday. It doesn't have a basket yet, but we'll get one. Perhaps also a horn and a lion's head light to complete the ensemble. It's not red, but a lovely shade of turquoise blue, with fenders and whitewall tires.

I love it. It's one of the best Mother's Day presents I could ask for.


10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh! I LOVE your bike! I've been wanting a bike, but my bike qualifications are similar to yours. I can't handle fancy gears and such. And, yes, every bike needs a basket. What kind of bike is yours exactly? I assume a Schwinn, but what type?
MaLeah :)

Sh. said...

What an awesome idea!!! I hope you and Maddy get to make memories with your bikes together!

minniemama68 said...

Awesome bike....I want a pink bike, and I'm sure I'll humiliate my kids with it too.

Jill of All Trades said...

Love the bike. Reminds me of my old Schwinn that is up in storage and rusty. Maybe I'll ask The Hubby to restore it. That should keep him busy.

Erin said...

Oooooh I dig it. I went bike riding for the first time in years a few months ago, and I could barely walk for three days afterward. Eaaaase back into it.

Marrdy said...

Oh wow!!! That is just like my sisters first bike. I remember the day she got it in 1964! Thanks for a great memory and enjoy your cool new bike.

Gregg said...

Very cool and retro!

I think you are almost required to have a basket on this bike, aren't you?

Zip n Tizzy said...

I love it.
And how nice that Maddy has that memory, even if you would have grounded them.

Nancy R said...

There's a nice wire mesh basket these days and it has a small bracket that is attached to the bike and then the basket attaches to your bike, SO the basket can come off for shopping and stuff. I REALLY want a basket like that. I think I've seen them at Toys R Us.

Robin said...

your bike is cool. i got a wii fit for mother's day. if i didn't live in an upstairs condo, i would have insisted upon a bike. yours is great.