I bought a new bike last week and picked it up on Saturday.

It’s a Specialized Vita Elite, so fast and peppy. After picking it up I headed out for a ride and loved every minute on it. I was only going to go for a short ride but ended up doing 35km. On Sunday I headed out again, still so happy to be out on my new bike and doing hills that it usually takes me a few weeks to build up to.

I’ve wanted a new bike for years and so I saved my pennies and finally have a bike I love. It’s been a long, long, long time since I’ve had a brand new bike. My last few were second hand, still good bikes but now I have “Charlie” (yes I named my bike). Brand new, everything works beautiful, nobody else has ridden him except me. I predict a long wonderful summer with me a Charlie, so far the relationship is starting off really well. I’m smitten.

I’ve always liked riding a bike, I think it goes back to when I was about five and we moved into a duplex. First day there I was riding my tricycle and I still remember it. I took off and having lived in an apartment before I didn’t have the chance to ride my tricycle where ever I wanted. On this day I took off, totally made a break for it. I was having the time of my life, loving pedalling along block after block with no idea where I was going. I don’t think I was thinking about that, at five it was about the journey.

Then a neighbor saw me pedalling away down the street and took me back home. In his car. My Mom freaked out on me for riding my tricycle so far away from the house, which is probably why I remember the incident so well. Now looking back I’m thinking she should have freaked out about me getting in the neighbors car. We hadn’t really met him yet, so although a neighbor and as it turns out a nice man if I was now my Mother I would have freaked that I as a five year old had gotten into a strangers car.

Okay it was nice of him and everything turned out great but I think I would have eventually turned around and headed home. I mean I wouldn’t permanently have left home without my stuffed lion, who was named Lion. It’s still one of my favourite memories, despite getting in trouble. That first freedom on a tricycle. I still go back to that feeling when I ride now.