autoBIKEography

Mongoose BMX.

In 1975 I learned to ride on my sister's Midget Sting Ray. The next year I got my own bike, just like this Sky Blue model in the photo above. I put thousands of miles on this bike mostly within one mile of my house. My mom took it to the shop when I cracked the rear hub and they only gave her $20 trade in value for it when she got me the Mongoose, a bike that could take some abuse.

Schwinn Le Tour.

This was my grandfathers's bike and I got it when he passed away. It was way too big for me but I rode it anyway for a while until it was stolen out of the garage.

Schwinn Coaster Brake Cruiser (no picture) I got this bike for $35 from the local bike repair guy who always had 10 or 15 bikes for sale in his back yard. I rode this to driver's ed class everyday one summer. Then I got my license and put it away. It collected dust until my mom gave it away. I wish I still had it.

I got the Shogun brand new in Hoquiam in 1989 and shipped it off to Grinnell. I slapped it together out of the box and rode it through college with everything "finger tight". It got trashed and sold shortly after graduation. That's not my Shogun pictured above, but it was Blue and Cheesy and full of low end components.

GT Continuum (no picture) bought this brand new from a snobby little bike shop on East Pike that no longer exists. It was a heavy geeky hybrid comfort city bike. I gave this to a friend of a friend after a few years.

Cannondale Mt Bike (no picture) got this used from Kevin at Play it Again Sports. It was way way too small for me. I stripped it down into my first ghetto single speed bar bike. Then donated it to Bike Works.

I bought a brand new rock hopper from the shop on Whidbey Island in 1996. Then I went straight home hacked the bars down, put slicks on and tried to lock out the front suspension. So why the hell did I buy a mountain bike? This was my first messenger bike. I sold it to Stu in 1998. He rode it for a while then passed it on.

I bought a brand new Red Trofeo for some reason at R&E in 1996. I had my credit card in hand, itching to spend money and the sales guy took advantage of me. Never rode it much then sold it to a messenger, who sold it to a messenger, who sold it to 33 who cracked the frame. I gave him my original receipt and he warranteed himself a beautiful new celeste frame four years newer than the broken one. He bought me a pitcher of beer in return.

I bought this complete bike used in 1997 and rode the shit out of it as my work bike with one ring up front and 8 in the back. And check out the hacked bars and jury rigged levers. This frame cracked in 1999 after years of abuse.

I got this beautiful lugged silver brazed Reynolds steel custom made road bike from the original owner who had too many bikes. It was all Shimano 600 seven speed rock solid. I rode it for work on sunny days then rode it for work all the time. It participated in CMWCs in DC, Philadelphia, Seattle and Edmonton. After thousands and thousands of miles it asked to be retired so I hung it on the wall. Then I gave it to Stu, who put a few more months of fixed gear riding into it. Pictured here at the old Wa Legal, 89 S. Washington.

I got this complete bike on 10-9 day 1999 from Adam Smith at Bike Works. It was a 10 speed freewheel. It has been through many stages, from 120mm to 126mm and back to 120mm. It's currently my fixed gear grocery bike.

I bought this on ebay, cleaned it up, rode it to Safeway a couple times, then sold it on ebay. But I wish I still had the Phil hubs.

Casati Track Bike (not pictured) I got this frame and fork at the bike swap in 99 and built it up as a coaster brake cruiser with 26" yellow deep Vs. Sold it on ebay.

50 x 18 coaster brake cruiser. Riding high on 27 inch steel rims and huge tires. This is a fun bar bike. I got the frame & fork for $10 at Bike Works.