It's funny, too, the part about the differences between boys and girls bikes. As I recall, my first bikes were the same, or at least simiar to boys bikes. They had a banana seat, and maybe the "top tubes" were different, but they were light blue or red. Not frilly and uber girly.

And my most vivid memories of riding as a kid were:
a) racing each other from block to block
b) riding for hours, then up to the playground to play baseball
c) building ramps out of plywood and paint cans, then jumping off them in the street.

It's a wonder no one died, but it was fun.

I wonder if this is just selective memory, or if the marketing of bikes to girls has changed since the 70s. I mean, I remember purple and pink bikes, but mainly it was color difference.