The year was 1959 and a ten year old boy had been working and saving up his money to buy his first bicycle. He finds a used Western Flyer that is in his budget and he is off and rolling. It was far from perfect, the red paint was scratched up and rough looking due to the last kid who owned it. But he still loved his bike. He was heart broken one summer day when he was leaving the neighborhood pool and it was gone. A week later he went with his parents to pick it up from the Austin Police Department. The fenders and chain guard had been removed in an attempt to disguise the bike. But he still loved his bike. Once school started he rode it everyday because it sure beat walking uphill both ways everyday. Until the day he came out of school and it was gone again. The police would be of no help this time, my dad's beloved bike was gone for good. Or was it?
Fast forward 51 years.
I have decided to give my dad back his first bike. Not the exact bike, maybe more of a tribute bike to his first one. He has taught me so many valuable lessons in my 32 years. Hard work delivers results, take pride in what you do, take care of others and you will be repaid in ways you cannot imagine at the time, and so much more. I decided that this would be a great way to express some of my appreciation to him.
After spending a lot of time hunting for the right frame julesjunk hooked me up with just what I needed. It has been hanging up in the garage since early April and it is time to get started while I am waiting for parts to show up at the LBS for my RRBBO5 bike.
We are going down to Austin to visit towards the end of July and I hope to have it done for him by then.
I love my dad. He has been my hero for a long, long time. I cannot wait until he sees his first bike for the first time in 51 years.
Fast forward 51 years.
I have decided to give my dad back his first bike. Not the exact bike, maybe more of a tribute bike to his first one. He has taught me so many valuable lessons in my 32 years. Hard work delivers results, take pride in what you do, take care of others and you will be repaid in ways you cannot imagine at the time, and so much more. I decided that this would be a great way to express some of my appreciation to him.
After spending a lot of time hunting for the right frame julesjunk hooked me up with just what I needed. It has been hanging up in the garage since early April and it is time to get started while I am waiting for parts to show up at the LBS for my RRBBO5 bike.
We are going down to Austin to visit towards the end of July and I hope to have it done for him by then.
I love my dad. He has been my hero for a long, long time. I cannot wait until he sees his first bike for the first time in 51 years.
