by 
Seventeen years later
It was J.C.’s dark blue Gary Fisher AL-1
that I rode first
around the driveway of my parents house
back in Pennsylvania.
I knew then I wanted to own a mountain bike.
I didn’t know much about them
I just knew they were fun
and they cost money.
And money I had
after spending the summer installing carpeting
with an Italian named Mario
in his wood paneled station wagon.
The work was hard, but it paid cash.
J.C. told me to wait till we got to Flagstaff
they had a lot more places to ride and
shops where I could buy a good one.
And, if I waited till I got out west
I wouldn’t have to deal
with shipping the damn thing.
It all sounded good to me.
I bought my first bike
a red Bridgestone MB-5
for $380 dollars plus tax
from a shop downtown.
It is the shop I work in now.
That was 1990.
Seventeen years later
I draw my paycheck
from where I wrote that first check.
by 
Holla!
…i’m searching hidden recesses of my brain & i believe i’m picturing both of these correctly…
…deep blue al-1 w/ yellow & pink graphics…
…red mb-5 w/ white, black & grey trim & graphics…
…your introduction to the sport came w/ excellent bonafides…gary fisher & grant petersen were & are masters of their past & present domains…
…the bikes ???…poetry in motion…
…& your personal epic continues to be ridden & written…glad that’s so…
Yo, I bought my first MTB in 1990 too.
Gragitated from H.S…man, I thought I was cool.
Paint splattered Diamondback Apex and the world ahead.
Thank god that DB was solid felt like it was made out of lead.
Now your showing our real age. I see that same model and color MB-5 sitting in my friends garage. It is his wifes. He owns a shop here in Indy and doesn’t have the heart to put her on something new, not like she’s taking in off the road.
Mine was a ’89 Specialized Hard Rock Comp. Still have it, after many paint jobs and trade outs.
Showing your real ages ?? Dayum. Bunch of kiddies whining about being 30-something.
I remember all the crap bikes I had back in the 70’s. I went thru them like TP so I couldn’t begin to tell brands or models. And we would “build” our own from spare parts here and there so only Odin knew what the fuck we were riding at any given time. ha ha
Road bikes with small back wheels for easy wheelies. Chopper handle-bars. Banana seats. Sissy bars. Single speed. 3-speeds. 10 speeds. We was young and it was all good.
Those were the days.
My new motto is: Ride whatever makes you feel good.
Of course, now I’m depressed. I need a beer or 12.
Thanks a lot guy.
remember my first spin on a real mtn bike too, (first beer, first joint, first fuck, life changing…
Cannondale with a 26″ front wheel 24″ rear, the guy that owned the shop I raced road bikes for got one of the first production models.
first I had the money to buy was a Trek Antelope? second and superior was “91” G.F. SuperCaliber (still have the frame and use it as my benchmark best fit, “compact” press fit bottom bracket crapped out and can’t replace).
…patrick…trail-tail saddle, bullet cable stops, krayton rubber ergonomic grips, asymmetrical toe clips ???…