The Saturday Morning Post: Fast Bikes

I started riding bikes when I was about 8, a small bike, with hard rubber tires, that my sister had learned to ride on.  It was white, I don't remember the brand. It took a while on the rough gravel driveway for me to get a hang of it, to figure out that the secret was momentum, not balance.  A couple of years later, a Red Schwinn Typhoon came into my life, as a late birthday present.  Nearly 55 years later I still have it.  A 26 inch, single speed, coaster brake bike built like a tank in Chicago.  It's delivery was delayed by a strike in the factory in Chicago, soon after Schwinn started offshoring manufacturing.  

Riding a bike was limited freedom on the farm, limited by rough unpaved roads, and long distances.  Town was 4 miles away, and on those roads a bouncy dusty 40 minute ride.  

The first winter we lived in Florida, I bought a cheap 10-speed at KMart.  With paved streets, and sidewalks, my world opened up.  I had the only significant bike accident of my life on it, coming down a hill, at a fast pace, my brother turned across in front of me.  I went up and over landing hard on my back on the pavement.  The fork on my bike was broken, his wheel stay was bent by the impact.  

A couple of years later, I bought a nicer 10-speed, an orange one.  It had better components, was faster.  I rode it through the rest of high school and for a couple of years after.  Riding a bike, exploring the streets and sidewalks I learned so much about the neighborhood.  

In my late 20's I became hyper fit. Running, swimming, riding bikes. The reliable old schwinn outfitted with new tires and a new seat was ridden miles and miles.  

Buying new running shoes I saw a poster for a sprint series Triathlon, that was happening on my 30th birthday. I decided to give it a try.  I looked around, found a used 10 speed, a little heavy, and some said a size too small, it was affordable.  I remember two things, the start of the swim, and the finish of the bike segment. The man who finished just ahead of me, was celebrating his 80th birthday. 

I discovered there was a series of those races, around the central Florida area. I was hooked and did three seasons of triathlons - and had a place in the Sprint Series World Championship Race one year. I had changed jobs, and had a bit more money - I decided I wanted a really fast bike. 

Shopping was challenging, I had some idea of what I wanted, and how much I wanted to spend.  Several bike shops didn't take me seriously.  One point-blank told me that what I wanted was too much bike for me, and wouldn't let me test ride one.  I probably rode a dozen bikes, most of them were stiff, heavy, or simply clunky.  One morning I stopped in a new shop and there it was.  A Trek 1200 Aluminum.  It was a little more money than I was looking to spend.  The dealer was supportive.  He was honest, it is a handful, he said, "if you are serious about it, you will grow into it in a hurry, if not you will be back to trade it on something slower."  I took it for a couple of mile test ride. It was love at first ride, every shift was crisp and responsive, the brakes were amazing and the aluminum frame offered a smoother ride. The aerodynamic wheels and super thin tires provided snappy handling. If you are not ready for it, it is terrifying. Wrote a check and loaded it in the car.  I have ridden it probably 20,000 fast miles. I still have it almost 35 years later.  I have only ridden it a few times in the past 20 years, it still amazes me how fast and responsive it is.  

The Tour De France starts today. It combines two things I love, fast bikes, and French Countryside.  Someday I will be there to watch it thunder by. 

The photos above, were the Air Force Cycling Classic here in DC back in 2009.  The finish line was only a few blocks from where I lived while shopping for the condo.