Yesterday on my way home from work I saw something that I hadn’t seen in a very, very long time. Two people were doubling up on one bicycle with one of those people riding on the handlebars while the other pedaled.
My buddies and I used to do that all of the time before we were old enough to get cars. One time a reporter from the Lethbridge Herald even snapped a picture of us and put it in the paper with our names and everything. How exciting! Of course, the story was about the dangers of riding double on a bike, but I didn’t care. I made the newspaper! I was destined for stardom!
Needless to say, my dad didn’t share my enthusiasm. He explained the dangers of doing that and told me not to do it anymore. What a party pooper.
I wish I could tell you that I listened to him, but I didn’t.
The next day I was off to school with my buddy propped up on my handlebars. I figured my dad wouldn’t see us and the chances of another picture showing up in the Lethbridge Herald were next to nil, so away we went.
I probably stopped doing that when I realized my buddy was getting a free ride while I did all the work. There was something wrong with that equation and eventually my bike became a one person mode of transportation again.
It’s funny how seeing something you used to do can take your mind back 45 years in the blink of an eye.
Thanks to the Lethbridge Herald for giving me my 15 minutes of fame.
