Your Very First Bike

[Zen]

Mine was from Sears and Roebuck. I was kid sized, blue and red. I had these weird hard tires on it that didn't even hold air. I don't know what they were. It didn't take long to get over that and I started pedalling my sisters big bike, standing all the time 'cause I could reach either the seat or the pedals - it was one or the other. Seeing my need for a bike, my parents bought me a...wait for it.............HUFFY! It had the tank thing where you put batteries in for a headlight and a rack on the back for passengers. It was blue but soon painted white. I longed for a schwinn stingray but no, I never did get the cool stuff.

[shadon]

I remember it being in the second floor hallway and seeing it as I came down the stairs from the third floor. It was red and had training wheels. That bike was around for years, getting passed down to all of my siblings.

[northstar]

Mine was a lovely blue Schwinn. I think I was 6. It was tough learning to ride without training wheels on gravel out on the farm. I was just remarking how my Schwinn Suburban looks so much like a grown-up version of my first bike. Same color, even.

[RolliePollie]

My first two-wheeler was a pink Schwinn with a white and pink floral banana seat. Ooooh, that seat was soooooo pretty! It was smooth shiny vinyl and the flowers looked like they were hand painted (ok, I was 5 years old...but I was just in love with that pretty seat at the time!). I had one of those cool tall flags, a bell, and a white basket on the handlebars. My friends and I were allowed to ride all over the place by ourselves (this was in Southern California in the late 70's/early 80's). We even crossed busy 4-lane streets and intersections. I can't imagine letting a 5 or 6 year old go riding alone these days! It's sad that kids don't have that freedom anymore...we had so much fun as kids out on our own.

Around that time, my parents had these really neat old 3-speed folding Bianchis. I think they were 50's or 60's vintage. One was blue and one was green. They had step-through frames and if I recall correctly, you shifted by twisting the rubber grip on one of the handlebars. They were sold at a garage sale years ago...what a bummer! I've looked for these bikes on ebay but I've never found one.

[singletrackmind]

1972 grass green banana seat bike with sparkly green seat.

A lot like so...but green...

[Aggie_Ama]

Mid-80's garage sale find when I was 5. Maybe my parents got it from a friend? Mine had a banana seat and was Strawberry Shortcake themed!! I didn't learn to ride until I was 8 though, so the bike mainly had training wheels and sat unused. The bike was replaced for me by my grandparents when I finally learned to ride.


The best though was my Huffy Color Wave 10 speed I had. It got stolen and I am still saddened. It was an aqua color, I wish I could find a photo!

[SouthernBelle]

I got mine for Christmas when I was 4. It was red and blue and had training wheels. Don't remember the brand, but I bet it was from Western Auto way back then.

[IFjane]

Mine was a blue huffy. I learned to ride without training wheels when I was five. My elementary school was exactly 1 mile from my house and EVERYONE either walked or rode bikes to school. There were two huge bike racks out by the cafeteria and that's where we all parked our bikes. In those days, the kids who lived real close even went home for lunch & came back. I didn't because I was just a little too far away. But - I rode my bike to school every day (unless it was raining) from kindergarten through 6th grade. At some point I "graduated" to a larger bike, but I don't remember when.

Memories: I had a basket on the front, and my dad fashioned a primitive bungee with wire and a piece of cut innertube so I could tie down my books and papers.

I took piano lessons and rode my bike to those, too. The lessons cost $1.50. My mom would fold two quarters up into a dollar bill & I would hold that in my hand as I pedaled to my lessons.

I hated the month of March. It was so windy and the wind would blow up my skirt & I couldn't keep it down....then the boys would laugh. This was "back in the day" before girls could wear pants to school.

In winter Mom had me wear wool leggings under my skirts. I hated the leggings but they did keep me warm.

[GLC1968]

My first bike (that belonged to me specifically) was a banana seat bike similar to the one that singletrackmind posted. I think it was either blue or purple. I honestly don't remember much about it except that the pedals were really close to the ground, so I had to be careful not to make a sharp right turn with the right pedal in the down position. I did once (luckily in an empty parking lot) and got one of those handlebars hard in the ribs. I had a nasty moon-shaped bruise on my torso for months and it was the first time I ever knocked the wind out of my lungs. It was scary! Now, 30+ years later, I still keep the inside pedal up when I make a turn.

The first bike I truly remember was a white 12-speed Huffy that I got when I was in 4th grade. It had foam covered drop handlebars and I rode it EVERYWHERE for years (literally, through junior high). I LOVED that bike. Funny thing is, I have no idea what happened to it!

[tennisgirl43]

1972 grass green banana seat bike with sparkly green seat.

A lot like so...but green...

LOL! I had that same bike, only the seat was red, white, and blue. :-) It was very patriotic! Loved that bike!

[kelownagirl]

I can barely remember my first bike but it was a blue single speed and it was too big for me the first year. I wonder if I have a picture somewhere. I do remember my first ten speed - a purple Apollo back in 1974. It was $75 and I had to save up half the money from babysitting.

[Jiffer]

It was yellow with a banana seat, big ole' high "70's" style handlebars and a basket!!!

I remember Dad taking me to the elementary school's big blacktop area to teach me how to ride it. Once I got going I was SO afraid of stopping for fear of falling over! I kept going around in big circles and my Dad was trying to get me to stop, but I was too afraid! Apparently, I finally did and I don't even think I fell over!