I told my parents I’d be riding BMX bikes forever. It was my way to convince them, spending $450 on bike was worthwhile. I wasn’t really lying. I still ride my more adult version of a BMX bike: the wheels are 26″ as opposed to the traditional 20″. I can still hop a curb and do a short-lived wheelie some thirty-odd years later.
Oh how I dreamed one day I’d be in the magazines, inventing the latest move that I’d detail in a step-by-step instructional article. The truth is, I was never really that good. I don’t think I had the heart to really try the hard stuff. I had the instructional videos, watched the movie Rad 20 times and collected every magazine that hit the shelf. I had a Mike Dominguez signature Diamondback, that I added custom parts to.
My dream started around 1982 when I got my Murray X20R and my brother got the Schwinn Predator. I was set on getting my brother’s Predator which was the better and coveted of the two. I’d venture around the city and find new trails, various neighborhood ramps and other reputable riders to exchange tricks and inspiration.
I think by 1988, my focus on BMX and Freestyle riding were but a fleeting fantasy that would occur when I walked by my bike, gathering dust and rust. The bus and then the car overtook the whole transportation thing rather quickly as my childhood imagination shrunk and my affinity for the girls overwhelmed my mind.
Now I mostly ride my electric bike, back and forth to the office and basketball court. It has a rack in the front and rear, like any responsible city rider, and a step-through frame. A far cry from the daredevil-days of bunnyhops and grasshoppers. I get excited when I see a young person glide by me, hoping the curb with flair.
