My first sense of freedom
came from a hand-me down bike
A green dream machine
came from a hand-me down bike
A green dream machine
to glide along the sidewalk at heart-pounding speeds
The distances it could carry me were intoxicating
Seldom went a sunny day without being on my
Schwinn Sting-Ray
She was sweet
Banana seat had sparkles that glittered like tiny stars
We went on many adventures
Up and down the sidewalk
and occasionally all the way around the block
Up and down the sidewalk
and occasionally all the way around the block
One year there was a bicycle forum
A course put on by the police
A safety seminar
with stickers given out upon completion
A course put on by the police
A safety seminar
with stickers given out upon completion
Ride through these lanes
swerve through those cones
and roll over a small ramp
At the end
was the hardest bit of all
swerve through those cones
and roll over a small ramp
At the end
was the hardest bit of all
A line painted on the pavement
indicated a spot
where
from a string on a pole
hung an apple
indicated a spot
where
from a string on a pole
hung an apple
The challenge was to stop your bike on the line
stand on your pedals
balance
stand on your pedals
balance
take a bite of the apple
and ride back off
WITHOUT putting your feet down
I'd spent everyday on Sting-Ray that summer and knew her well
Steadily I approached the last feat
The bane of every kid who'd gone before
None had succeeded
They'd all fallen over
or rode right past
I slowed
Spotted the apple
Stopped underneath
Balanced myself
Stood as tall as I could on the pedals
Took out a massive bite
and rode off
My Dad was so proud
I was the only kid who did it
The next week
for my birthday
My Dad bought me a new bike
A Mongoose
It was a glorious thing to behold
Chrome silver frame
Red alloy wheels
Small handle bars
and
hand brakes
but
I didn't want it
It was shiny and all
but it wasn't Sting-Ray
I didn't want to upset Dad
I could tell it was expensive and he was excited
So, I leaned Sting-Ray onto her kick-stand
and climbed up
"It's for BMX racing," he said grinning 'I've signed you up for a circuit."
The Mongoose felt hard
The handlebars were stubby
The pedals didn't brake when you stepped on them
They spun backwards!
"It's called freewheel. You'll get used to it."
Clumsily, I rode Mongoose down the sidewalk
"You'll get used to it. Use the handbrakes to stop!" he shouted
It was a very thoughtful gift
and a really nice bike even though I could hardly ride it
My Dad tucked Sting-Ray deep into the garage
Putting her away
I liked my new bike
It was a handsome futuristic contraption
But
How great could it be?
It didn't have a kick-stand
or
a seat that sparkled with stars
Steadily I approached the last feat
The bane of every kid who'd gone before
None had succeeded
They'd all fallen over
or rode right past
I slowed
Spotted the apple
Stopped underneath
Balanced myself
Stood as tall as I could on the pedals
Took out a massive bite
and rode off
My Dad was so proud
I was the only kid who did it
The next week
for my birthday
My Dad bought me a new bike
A Mongoose
It was a glorious thing to behold
Chrome silver frame
Red alloy wheels
Small handle bars
and
hand brakes
but
I didn't want it
It was shiny and all
but it wasn't Sting-Ray
I didn't want to upset Dad
I could tell it was expensive and he was excited
So, I leaned Sting-Ray onto her kick-stand
and climbed up
"It's for BMX racing," he said grinning 'I've signed you up for a circuit."
The Mongoose felt hard
The handlebars were stubby
The pedals didn't brake when you stepped on them
They spun backwards!
"It's called freewheel. You'll get used to it."
Clumsily, I rode Mongoose down the sidewalk
"You'll get used to it. Use the handbrakes to stop!" he shouted
It was a very thoughtful gift
and a really nice bike even though I could hardly ride it
My Dad tucked Sting-Ray deep into the garage
Putting her away
I liked my new bike
It was a handsome futuristic contraption
But
How great could it be?
It didn't have a kick-stand
or
a seat that sparkled with stars
