by Ricky Crone

Created on: December 19, 2008

A Bike for Billy

I found an unusual bicycle frame back in the early eighties, It was pretty old and covered with dirt and spiderwebs but I could see allot of potential there. My 2 son's were age 5 and 7 at the time, they both had good bicycles but I thought to do something special with them we would build another with this old frame. We had the two colors of paint made special, each son got to pick out a color they wanted then together we went and had the paint mixed special , and picked up the rest of the parts for the bike. It took about 3 months of after school free time and weekends to get it built, but when we were finished it was beautiful. I was so glad we were finally done, I was having a hard time finding the time to go back out and fix the things they didn't get exactly right after they went to sleep. All through he painting process I had to keep telling them that the runs or over spray places wouldn't even show after the paint dried. They were so proud of themselves, so was I.

The bike had been painted using a fishnet stocking for a stencil to get a diamond pattern, the wheels were brand new, we put a set of pegs off the rear axle so that one could stand while the other rode, it almost looked like a mini beach cruiser, with streamers off the handle grips and shiny chrome fenders and chain guard, it was cool. Finally the day came for the test drive. John the oldest grabbed the handlebars, David stood on the pegs with his arms around Johnny's waist and off they rode. I stood in the driveway waiting their return....I was starting to worry when they did not show, but then here they come running back from around the curve, no bike, I thought oh no the chain must have broke apart or something. As they reached the end of the driveway I was already headed their direction to go and fix the bike. I asked johnny what happened, In between huffing and puffing he managed to get out the information.

"We gave it to Billy , that's OK isn't it? cuz Billy is our brand new friend who lives just around the curve, he hasn't been to school yet cuz moving cost to much and his mom has to wait to buy him some shoes he doesn't have any shoes, We went over there to show him the bike and he asked if he could ride it, I told him he better put on some shoes, he told me he didn't have any cuz there poor, but I let him take it for a ride anyway. He was careful, your not mad are you?" I replied "No Johnny I'm not mad" "After he got back from riding he said that it was the best bike

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>