[M_Six]

Originally Posted by pennsiveguy

One of the first purchases was a 12-speed bike (which were pretty new at that time in 1976), a Fuji S12-S, complete with gumwall tires, cloth handlebar tape, aluminum rims, Suntour derailleurs and a Belt racing saddle.

That bike was badass. Riding it, I felt like I'd grown wings. And buying and owning it was a fundamental awakening for me. Deliver value, and get value in exchange. Trade that value for something you want.

Do any kids work these days, ever? Has any kid in recent memory come home at 6 PM on a hot July evening, just in time for supper, dirty from head-to-toe with skinned-up knuckles and knees...and then gone back out so he could collect the $5 he was owed for mowing a lawn? Is there a single kid alive in the West who understands the idea of directly, personally producing and delivering concrete and tangible value as a means of having dignity and being independent? I pose these as questions, but I don't think I'm really ready for the answers.

Get off my lawn!

Nice. The 10-speeds the folks bought us were Schwinns and they weighed a ton. They were also very tall, which took some getting used to. I never did because my bike got stolen fairly early in the spring after the Xmas we got them. That was the first time theft had ever been real to me because it had never happened to me or anyone I knew before. It shocked the hell out of me that someone could think it was ok to just steal something that belonged to someone else.

My folks couldn't afford another new bike for me, so they bought a used 10-speed Peugot from a co-worker of my Dad. That bike actually suited me better. It was a better size for me and was very lightweight. I rode that bike everywhere until I got my driver's license.

[pennsiveguy]

Originally Posted by 3798j

Good purchase. The S12-S was the class of its price point (~$205~). My shop sold a ton of them (and the S10-S before it)...pride of possession, the ownership and use of quality equipment is incredibly rewarding.

Right, and it leads to another thing that's stuck with me: I take care of my stuff. Really, really good care. Once you've had something nice, you want to keep it nice.

[pennsiveguy]

Mainly for my American compadres: You know you're old if the first time you made out was in a conversion van.

The real trick vans, owned by the cool guys, had names. My buddy's older brother had a Ford Econoline with a fridge and couch in the back. He named it "The Sin Bin." The fumes off the upholstery would make your eyes water.

[pennsiveguy]

Originally Posted by M_Six

Nice. The 10-speeds the folks bought us were Schwinns and they weighed a ton. They were also very tall, which took some getting used to. I never did because my bike got stolen fairly early in the spring after the Xmas we got them. That was the first time theft had ever been real to me because it had never happened to me or anyone I knew before. It shocked the hell out of me that someone could think it was ok to just steal something that belonged to someone else.

My folks couldn't afford another new bike for me, so they bought a used 10-speed Peugot from a co-worker of my Dad. That bike actually suited me better. It was a better size for me and was very lightweight. I rode that bike everywhere until I got my driver's license.

Yeah, the Schwinns were tanks compared to the European and Japanese bikes. The only one that we thought was cool was the Le Tour, which I think was made in Japan. A friend of mine had a Peugot. The first European bike to really penetrate the US market as I recall, other than the British 3-speeds. I also had a Pegasus that I used for commuting and daily riding, after I did a bunch of upgrades to the Fuji which included sew-up tires.

[pennsiveguy]

You know you're old if you saw Miles Davis perform live. Ditto for Weather Report. Triple bonus geezer points if you saw Weather Report during the Jaco years.

[wdb]

Originally Posted by pennsiveguy

Anybody else have one of these?

Or one of these?

No but my kid did. Now get off my lawn!

[3.0L]

Originally Posted by pennsiveguy

Mainly for my American compadres: You know you're old if the first time you made out was in a conversion van.

The real trick vans, owned by the cool guys, had names. My buddy's older brother had a Ford Econoline with a fridge and couch in the back. He named it "The Sin Bin." The fumes off the upholstery would make your eyes water.

Does a '58 VW micro bus parked at the Drive-In Theater count?

[3798j]

Originally Posted by 3.0L

Does a '58 VW micro bus parked at the Drive-In Theater count?

Ha! My first type 2 was also a '58 (windowless)...talk about just pulling up out front to put fear into your girl's parents.

[213e90n51]

When you cant climb this

[cmyx6go]

Originally Posted by 3798j

Ha! My first type 2 was also a '58 (windowless)...talk about just pulling up out front to put fear into your girl's parents.

Especially if you had the bumper sticker that read If this vans a rocking, don’t come a knocking!

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by pennsiveguy

The real trick vans, owned by the cool guys, had names. My buddy's older brother had a Ford Econoline with a fridge and couch in the back. He named it "The Sin Bin." The fumes off the upholstery would make your eyes water.

Did anyone see "Young Sheldon" last Thursday? Half of the episode was the older brother picking up a shag-wagon as his first car.....

[pennsiveguy]

Originally Posted by 3.0L

Does a '58 VW micro bus parked at the Drive-In Theater count?

Hell yeah. Same goes for old station wagons. My buddy John had a massive '73 Pontiac Catalina Safari station wagon, with the woodgrain all over and the clamshell tailgate and curtains on all the windows in back. Its nickname was "The Hose Boat". He had a season pass to the local drive-in, and he got his money's worth out of it...the pass, and the car. It was the center of much merriment.

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by 213e90n51

When you cant climb this

Montana?

[213e90n51]

Originally Posted by 1MOREMOD

Montana?

Culver city LA Socal

[1MOREMOD]

Oh thought it was behind Montana u or u of Montana cant remember which looks similar. I didn't climb it either but due to old dog with me.

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by 1MOREMOD

Oh thought it was behind Montana u or u of Montana cant remember which looks similar. I didn't climb it either but due to old dog with me.

That's no way to speak about your ex

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by M_Six

My folks bought us 10-speeds instead

Baller! We only got 3

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

That's no way to speak about your ex

Ha, I didn't really wanna climb up there either went most of the way and dog was tired of it.

[213e90n51]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

Baller! We only got 3

I had a skateboard from wallmary

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

Baller! We only got 3

Rich kid, eh? That's two more than my first real bicycle had!

My current Trek has a gazillion more speeds than I know what to do with, obviously because I'm an old fart and keep falling over on other people's lawns trying to adjust all of those levers.....

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

Rich kid, eh? That's two more than my first real bicycle had!

My current Trek has a gazillion more speeds than I know what to do with, obviously because I'm an old fart and keep falling over on other people's lawns trying to adjust all of those levers.....

Weren't you just quoting us about repeating history or something.

I only change 2 gears now, makes it easier to get over the bridge. I think I probably have 18 on my dad's old Trek.

[M_Six]

I bought a Trek Marlin 4 for my younger brother in FL, which is not known for its hills. It has 21 speeds. I'm thinking 18 of them are useless.