I was obsessed with bikes at a early age, at 5 (1960) I got my first "2 wheeler" and I had the training wheels off the first day.
In 1965, a bike rocked my 10 year old world! The Schwinn stingray. I wanted on so bad that I asked everyday for one for Christmas, I did every day! I described it to a tee, Lime green, rear slick, tall sissy bar, metal flake seat. Not a gear shift one although I don't think those came out until later.
I cannot tell you how bad I lusted for a Stingray, please believe me when I say it took up about all my waking thoughts.
Christmas morning, 1965, my room is just off the living room, at 4 am I awake, I go to the living room and there under the tree is a bike...strange it looks a little big under the wrapping paper but it's for sure a bike...cannot risk getting caught, scared cow.
7:00am, I come out to the tree again, it is now an acceptable time to wake up the folks, coffee, Mom wants to make breakfast first, OH COME ON YOUR KILLING ME!
We go into the living room, my blood runs cold. It's too darn big for a stingray, oh no. It's a Sears 3 speed, RED! Red? I hate RED!!! I know they knew what I wanted, a SEARS 3 speed with upright handle bars, skinny tires and a rack!?!
I turned to my Dad and I swore for the first time in my life. "..." "What did you say?" my dad asked, I screamed, "..." You have ruined my life!!
Needless to say that was always referred to the year that "I ruined Christmas"
Skip to 45 year later and dang it! I'm still bitter, if my Old Man had just said that they could not afford one, I would have dealt with that but come on! A stinking Huffy/Sears RED 3 speed! I was crushed.
I now know that the folks were pretty bad alcoholics, they had plenty of money for booze and cigarettes but when it came to us kids...
Sorry to drag you through that but I think that you guys can understand that better than anyone else.
Okay to the present day, My very Loving Wife, bought me a OCC Stingray a few years ago to "make up for it" 34 years of marriage and I still love that woman!! I have been to counseling, I made peace with my Father before he passed and I now have Christ in my life. It's all good.
So let's build a rat bike!
Steve Andrews
In 1965, a bike rocked my 10 year old world! The Schwinn stingray. I wanted on so bad that I asked everyday for one for Christmas, I did every day! I described it to a tee, Lime green, rear slick, tall sissy bar, metal flake seat. Not a gear shift one although I don't think those came out until later.
I cannot tell you how bad I lusted for a Stingray, please believe me when I say it took up about all my waking thoughts.
Christmas morning, 1965, my room is just off the living room, at 4 am I awake, I go to the living room and there under the tree is a bike...strange it looks a little big under the wrapping paper but it's for sure a bike...cannot risk getting caught, scared cow.
7:00am, I come out to the tree again, it is now an acceptable time to wake up the folks, coffee, Mom wants to make breakfast first, OH COME ON YOUR KILLING ME!
We go into the living room, my blood runs cold. It's too darn big for a stingray, oh no. It's a Sears 3 speed, RED! Red? I hate RED!!! I know they knew what I wanted, a SEARS 3 speed with upright handle bars, skinny tires and a rack!?!
I turned to my Dad and I swore for the first time in my life. "..." "What did you say?" my dad asked, I screamed, "..." You have ruined my life!!
Needless to say that was always referred to the year that "I ruined Christmas"
Skip to 45 year later and dang it! I'm still bitter, if my Old Man had just said that they could not afford one, I would have dealt with that but come on! A stinking Huffy/Sears RED 3 speed! I was crushed.
I now know that the folks were pretty bad alcoholics, they had plenty of money for booze and cigarettes but when it came to us kids...
Sorry to drag you through that but I think that you guys can understand that better than anyone else.
Okay to the present day, My very Loving Wife, bought me a OCC Stingray a few years ago to "make up for it" 34 years of marriage and I still love that woman!! I have been to counseling, I made peace with my Father before he passed and I now have Christ in my life. It's all good.
So let's build a rat bike!
Steve Andrews
