Troy, the husband, told me he wanted to get me a bike for Xmas and kept asking me to pick one out. Well, I did some research and really wanted a bike exactly like my last one but couldn't find one and they cost about $500. Considering my history with bikes I thought I should go with a less expensive bike...
I remember Xmas 1989, wow I just realized that was 20 years ago now! Anyway, I received a purple 10 speed bike just what I wanted I was so excited I hurried up and got dressed and wanted to take a ride. My dad went outside with me to make sure I was ok and watched as I rode down the road. I was headed to my grandmother's who lived at the other end of the road, I turned halfway there and noticed my dad waving goodbye and going back into the house. Just then I blacked out and I remembered laying on the freezing pavement looking up at the cold gray sky. I'm not sure how long I laid there in the middle of the road, seeing it was Xmas morning no one was out. I tried to get up and realized that I had blood all over my hands, there was a pain shooting down my arm and my black sweatpants were torn and bloodied. My voice tried to call out for help but the sounds just wouldn't come. I finally realized I would have to get up and get help, I knew I couldn't make it home or to grandma's so I parked by bike and went to the closest house and knocked on the door. The girl that lived there was about 2 years younger than me. I knocked and she and her mother opened the door with shocked faces.... it took them a moment then finally said "Sarah?". I just cried and said "Can you please call my dad". They took me to their bathroom and began to dab a washcloth on my face. I could now see in the mirror why they looked so shocked opening the door. The skin on both cheeks had been scraped off, there was a rock embedded above my lip and a deep gash on my chin. I looked like something out of a cheesy 80s horror flick. I still can't imagine having some injured child stroll up to my Xmas festivities in the morning, I still feel bad about that to this day, but what was I do to? Anyway, my dad arrived very quickly and rushed me to an urgent care. It turned out my arm was fractured, I needed stitches above my lip but I protested them so much they said I could get away not having them. They bandaged my entire face and we were home by that afternoon. It was the first Xmas I missed family dinner at grandma's, I remember not showing my face for weeks, I would hide my face whenever anyone came to visit. It was terrible... I'm still not sure what happened... It could have been icy, a large rock, we think I went over the handlebars but I'll never know. After that I wouldn't ride the bike for a long time...
A few years later, again for Xmas my sister and I received bikes. This time they were Fuji hybrids; mine was fluorescent yellow. I loved that bike, I remember coming home from school some days putting it on the bike rack on the car and driving to the NCR trail. That was "my time". I would ride, smell the air, look at the trees, it felt amazing, I felt free. I tried to ride as much as possible so then when I moved to Miami and the bike stayed in MD I missed having it. As soon as I moved into my own apt and was able to bring the bike, I packed it up and drove it back against my parent's recommendations. I think I only had the bike a few weeks in Miami when one night I was sitting in my bedroom on the computer and I see a man scale the 8 foot privacy fence. He looks right at me, then right at the bike and goes straight for it. Granted I was stupid and placed it right outside my back door behind the washer and dryer unlocked. I get up once I realize what's happening, screaming and trying to get out the door... That stupid apartment you needed a key to unlock the doors and the key was in the front door so I couldn't get out. Which, now that I think about it is probably for the best. So instead I stand there in a t-shirt and underwear screaming my head off as I watch $500 and my bike love being thrown over the privacy fence.
So, now this Xmas Troy wants to get me a bike... I want one, but considering the history am a bit nervous. I test a few in stores, do a lot of research and my final pick is a Schwinn. Tonight we went out and picked it up. Troy's resolution is apparently for us to ride at least once a week so we'll see about that. We bought Willow a bike trailer over 2 weeks ago and I'm still trying to find out if the idiot has sent it yet or not. Nevermind, that's a sore subject right now, little mad at the seller...
Anyway, here's the bike... I'll keep you posted on how it rides and if any bad luck comes from this one ;)
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