Allen_Wrench
Resident Mad Scientist
I was gonna become a member of the 20 MPH club, just because it seemed pretty sensible when I thought about it. Then this kid on an un-motorized Schwinn Stingray (the newer kind with the fat rear tire) challenged this here old man to a race.
I actually did try to discourage him at first. "You see there's a motor on here? Right?" He says I'm chicken. "We're talking a single speed pedal bike versus a two-stroke gas engine!" Bawk, bawk, bawk..."Okay fine!"
We took the nearly deserted lane in the back of the park and, just because I wanted an extra measure of what little safety could be had, I posted some of his buddies along the side to wave at us if it looked like anything would go wrong. I let him give the word to go.
Of course I smoked him. I told him that would happen. BUT: he wasn't as far behind as I expected him to be! And he was panting for real! He wants to try again sometime. He's gonna practice until he can take me. Ya know, he's got moxie. Get him a decent old ten-speed, he might just pull it off.
PS - stuff I almost left out: the kid's not a total stranger. We see him around the mobile home park quite a bit; he does live here. I don't know his name but I think I've worked on his bike. And safety gear was also involved in our exploit, as always, so maybe I'm not 100% nuts.
I actually did try to discourage him at first. "You see there's a motor on here? Right?" He says I'm chicken. "We're talking a single speed pedal bike versus a two-stroke gas engine!" Bawk, bawk, bawk..."Okay fine!"
We took the nearly deserted lane in the back of the park and, just because I wanted an extra measure of what little safety could be had, I posted some of his buddies along the side to wave at us if it looked like anything would go wrong. I let him give the word to go.
Of course I smoked him. I told him that would happen. BUT: he wasn't as far behind as I expected him to be! And he was panting for real! He wants to try again sometime. He's gonna practice until he can take me. Ya know, he's got moxie. Get him a decent old ten-speed, he might just pull it off.
PS - stuff I almost left out: the kid's not a total stranger. We see him around the mobile home park quite a bit; he does live here. I don't know his name but I think I've worked on his bike. And safety gear was also involved in our exploit, as always, so maybe I'm not 100% nuts.
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