| I remember when I went with my dad to the local bike | | | | I think that for a lot of people, bicycles hold some sort |
| shop to pick out my first bike. I was so excited. I | | | | of sentimental value, which is why it usually takes |
| remember looking up at walls and walls of bicycles in | | | | some time and deliberation to choose one out. Once |
| all shapes, sizes and colors. When you walked in the | | | | you get old enough to purchase your bicycle, things |
| door, there were tall ceilings line forever with neat | | | | can become a lot more technical, especially if you're |
| rows of bicycles and the smell of new rubber | | | | planning on using your bicycle for more than the |
| permeated throughout the entire building. I walked | | | | leisurely ride in the backyard or around the |
| around with my father for a while and he allowed me | | | | neighborhood. Bikes can range in size as well as in |
| to gravitate towards certain bicycles. It was neat | | | | price. For instance, some people will actually spend |
| because, unlike, other stores, you were actually | | | | upwards of $1,000 to purchase a lightweight "road |
| allowed to touch the stuff in here. I felt the handlebars | | | | bicycle". If you're planning on buying a new bicycle, |
| and ran my hands along the banana seats and through | | | | know what you are going to plan on using it for. If you |
| the streamers. Eventually, I found a bicycle that I liked | | | | are planning on becoming a cyclist who races road |
| and my dad exchanged a few words with the sales | | | | bikes, you'll be looking for a different bicycle than |
| guy in the store. Before you knew it, the bicycle had | | | | someone who is planning on going mountain biking or |
| been taken down and we were being led to the back | | | | taking their kids out for a ride on the boardwalk. |
| of the store to the parking lot where there were other | | | | Usually, you can purchase bikes that are already |
| people riding around on bicycles. I was actually going to | | | | assembled, but it's always a good idea to double |
| get a chance at test riding this bicycle! At the time, it | | | | check and make sure that this is the case. A lot of the |
| had training wheels on it, but I remember it clear as | | | | times, you'll end up having to assemble the bike, so be |
| day. It was a purple, banana seat bicycle with | | | | ready for it if that's the case. If you can afford it, buy |
| streamers coming out of the handles. It rode really | | | | your bicycle from a "bike shop" versus a discount |
| smoothly; I loved it. A few minutes later, my father was | | | | store or some other store that happens to sell bikes |
| at the register paying for my first bicycle. I remember | | | | (ex: Target, Kmart) because the people at a bike shop |
| riding my bicycle up and down the sidewalk with | | | | are generally qualified to deal with specific issues as it |
| neighbors as well as in my backyard on the patio. | | | | relates to bikes versus people in other stores who are |
| There were so many good memories, including the | | | | more likely to give you their opinion but not really know |
| day the training wheels came off and I was able to | | | | what they are talking about. |
| balance well enough on my own to finally ride solo. | | | | |