First Bike Stories II

Back in August of '07 I published a request for people to tell their "First Bike Story". Working here at Gregg's for the last 15 years or so, one of the best parts of the job is having all the people come and tell me that they bought their first bike at Greenlake years ago. To a person, they get a wistful look in their eyes when they talk about their first bike. First bikes are special, they mean more than their parts. They mean freedom, fun, inclusion in a select group of people that ride, most of all independence. People are passionate about their bicycles. Recently I asked, on twitter, for people to tell me their favorite bike. The answers were quick and passionate.

benayers @greggscycles my favourite bike without doubt my new BH road bike. A beauty and so quick it scares me.

stephs @greggscycles SOMA Rush. I absolutely adore this bike. I leave my husband every day to be with it.

dantisser @greggscycles The bike Im riding this weekend, a 2006 Foes Fly with a Manitou Travis


RunVMC @greggscycles Yellow fixie, converted from my dad's early 70s Motobecane 10-spd frame (new wheels/pedals/bars/etc.) is my all-time fav (RIP)

There are few objects that inspire the same passion (at least in my experience). People love their bikes and they especially love their first bikes. Here are a few lines from a couple of the first bike stories:

My first bike was purchased before I could be influenced by what might be "cool". I was still a year away from kindergarten and based my decision solely on color and aesthetics. It was candyapple red with red and white streamers.
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So the summer before college, I bought a 1988 black Diamondback Topanga mountain bike for about $300 of my babysitting dollars and started biking around hot, muggy Houston in all sorts of conditions. Just to get ready.
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Inside was a brand new credit card, pre-approved, just call to activate. I called, walked down to Gregg's and rode home on my brand new purple and gold Specialized Rockhopper Comp with full Suntour X-1 components. I loved that bike. I'm probably still paying it off!
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It's your turn. Tell us about your first bike. Just use the comments link and share your story. Thanks and have fun!

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Tell Us Your First Bike Story

Part of the joy of working for Gregg's Cycle is that it has been around for 75 years. I can't tell you how many times I've been talking with someone at an event, or a party or where ever and had the person I was talking about tell me that they remember when they bought their first bike at Gregg's Greenlake Cycle. Sometimes it was just a few years ago but often it was 25 years ago or 50 or even 60 years ago. My own Grandmother tells me about when you used to come down to Greenlake to rent skates from us when she was a kid. It seems that almost everyone remembers their first bike and the stories are always great.

I'd love to hear more of them. So use the comments field below and tell us your first bike story.