My earliest ride

[427TJ]

Here's how I learned to ride a bike. This photo from 1966 (Richmond, California) shows me and my friend Rob on his Schwinn Stingray. Rob was (is) 4 years older and could easily ride me around with him on his bike. I'd sit up front on the banana seat and put my feet on the top of the forks on the chrome 'steps' that stuck out at the fork tops. One day, Rob got tired of riding me around. We were on the local schoolyard riding with dozens of other kids (the baby boom was neat that way) and Rob just stopped, got off the bike, and said "It's time you learned how to ride!" I was scared but before I could bail-off the bike he gave it a good push and I was off. I can still remember thinking "Hey, I'm riding a bike!" as I went across the schoolyard. I didn't know how to turn so I crashed into the side of the school building. I wasn't hurt and Rob put me back on and gave me another shove and I was off for more.

You can see that we were a Ford family. My Dad thought Falcons were economical and practical so we had two, the white '62 (bought new) and the blue '66 (also bought new). All California cars were "black plate" in those days!