Bike History

I can remember every bike ever had, likely every bike I've ever ridden.

My first bike wasn't a bicycle - it was a very genuine tricycle...of the quality they don't make these days. Next I was the proud owner of a big wheel. I ruined that plastic beauty by "burning out" the front wheel. A six year old memory stored away til now. I was even lucky enough to own a 'green machine', kind of a hybrid big wheel, but far cooler. It had four wheels, was green of course, and had levers that could stop the rear wheels. Ah, the joy of showing off at age 7.

My parents tied a string to my first real bike that led from the Christmas tree all over the house to my prized orange painted beauty. It had some plastic embellishment on the top tube which I quickly learned could be flipped upside down to transport various seeds and berries from the neighborhood trees. I would ride with one hand and throw crab apples at my friends with the other.

Next came a more sophisticated BMX bike. Flashy. Strong. I always believed I could make that bike move fast. It was later given to a neighborhood kid. I remember seeing it years later - broken down and used up.

Then came a very cheap and common Free Spirit 10 speed bike. It was a horrible mass produced bike - the kind that should never be made, sold, or bought. It got me to the pool on a daily basis - until the day my Incredible Hulk towel got caught in the chain and I wrecked miserably.

Up until this time I just rode bikes like most kids. They got me around. When I met my sisters boyfriends brother it all changed. I clearly remember talking with him immediately following a ride - he owned a Cinelli. An Italian racing bike. He told me of his many adventures in and out of traffic on our city streets. I was interested. I started to beg and plead with my mother the next day I'm sure. I stepped up to a Raliegh Wyoming touring bike that we bought at the Schwinn shop. This was a great shop, or so I thought at age 14. It's now a fairly swanky pizza place on the North side of Broad Ripple near the canal. I rode several thousand miles on that Raleigh I'm sure. One Spring Break week in high school I rode 600 miles. I was a complete dork ( past tense there).

I moved on to an Oschner...I think an English bike. This bike was short lived. Blue. I was riding with a pro-level triathlete in Bloomington, IN (he was later to be first out of the water at Ironman Kona) when I heard an odd sound. I glanced down and noticed that the seat tube of the frame was swinging - detached from the bottom bracket. That's a scary sight when cycling hills near B-town. So -had to buy a new frame.

This progression led me to a Basso. My first Italian bike. All white. All steel. Perfect fit. I loved this bike. It cornered like a Cadillac. My cycling skills flourished on this bike. My Basso has to go down as one of biggest regrets: I sold the thing in college for money to buy a Fender Jazz Bass. Huh? I didn't even know how to play bass. I still don't.

In college I bought a Bridgestone MB-2 mountain bike to get around. I still feel horrible for the guy I hit in traffic once....he was in his car, and I blasted the passenger side rear-view mirror off the vehicle racing to class. It was a clear hit and run case. Me and my bike damaged a car in traffic. Thought it was pretty cool at the time. Loved the bike. And I still miss it....stolen when my roommates had a party when I was away. Bad karma I suppose. That is such a college mistake - leaving my most valuable possession in the care of my roommates.

I replaced that one with another Bridgestone MB-2. Bad color - purple. But oh could it move. Amazingly, also stolen, from my garage, two days before the birth of my first son. I still keep an eye out for this bike, nearly 9 years later.

Next came eBay: I picked up a Bridgestone MB-Zero. The bike that gave Bridgestones a cult like following. It still sits safely in my basement. I fell off the deep end, and had a job, so I bought another MB-2 off eBay...just like the one my roommates lost.

I forgot my steel Lemond. I picked up an entry level Lemond (from the former Tour great Greg Lemond - a childhood idol) in my mid 20's. I even did a few triathlons back then, but never really dedicated myself to the training. This bike is tucked away in the basement also...soon to be eBay'd.

I had a long absence from cycling. A college friend called up out of the blue one day and asked me if I wanted to do Ironman Wisconsin. That was 2007. I've been hooked since then.

Current road bike: Cervelo Soloist - Aluminum - 2007.
Current time trial bike: Felt B12 - Carbon fiber - 2009.

I'm embarrassed to write that I personally own five bikes.

The Basso was the best.