As a kid, perhaps into my early teens I was a huge BMX fan.
I would buy the magazines, watch videos, even wore the clothing.
I remember I had a Norco "spitfire" bike that I fixed up a little
and would ride that up and down the street. As I got older I would go to
a local park, Morningside Park east of Toronto, Canada in Scarborough.
They had an area in the park known as the "whoop-dee-do's" (Pardon my spelling).
The area was full of small hills and jumps surrounded by trees. It was by no means
an official biking area. I don't know if people just formed these jumps over time,
either way it was awesome. When I think back now it was a hazard!
I'm surprised I never saw anyone get seriously hurt at the park.
I recall going back one time to find everything demolished.
I'd be willing to bet the city came in and did it, but I can't confirm.
One of my good buddies Andy had moved out of town. When he returned one summer
he was HUGE into BMX. He was really good! He had so many tricks! My friend David and I
were really motivated to get back into our BMX ways when we saw Andy and all his skills.
I ended up trading my Norco Spitfire for a GT/DYNO frame....because hey, Andy had a GT/DYNO.
By this time I had a small paper route and small income coming in. Ciyclecity was the spot to buy
all your parts at that time. But my friends and I had found a small local mom & pop shop!
The name escapes me now... but they had some great prices.
Slowly I started to buy parts and assemble this bike. I remember I had these huge Fusion pegs.
A nice purple seat (I love purple), 3 GT seat clips in green, white, and purple. Clear GT grips,
Bulldog brakes, a nice chrome chain, GT sprocket, 4 piece GT bars....etc.
The bike was awesome............I actually ran out of money to complete the bike.
I can't recall how much time passed, but I lost interest in the bike and it hung by a nail in my parents garage.
I always told myself I would complete the project, but I didn't. The rims were costly to be honest.
As I got older the bike hung in the garage, still a fond memory I had of my childhood.
I always thought I would give this bike to my son (if I ever had one....now I do!)
So one day I go to mom and dad's place. A little brother has moved back home. And even though this bike
was far from in the way of anything, even though my parents had plenty of space my little brother tossed the bike out.
There it sat on the curb, I probably invested $600 into this bike in my youth.
And just like that it was out on the curb! The kicker, my mother, my father, my middle brother all walked passed the bike.
Told my brother he probably shouldn't have done that, asked if he had called me to ask me. (He didn't)
Yet NOBODY decided to call me, NOBODY decided to pick up the bike and hang it back up.
It was gone !
This was years ago...........my blood honestly boils when I think about it.
I look locally to find bikes that remind me of this.......I should make my little
brother pay til I form a collection worth about $600.