At the age of 14 years old I started work on the building trade as an appre ntice and a bike was required to travel to and from work. Having no money m y father bought me a plain domestic machine , being wartime even second bik es were scarce . Late in 1945 I worked with two tradesmen who were club cyc lists and typical of that era they both used their racing lightweights for work. I would accompany them on our journey home and with their encourageme nt I was being drawn into another world of cycling beyond the use of a bike just for work purposes. Not being any interested in any of the usual domes tic games I made up my mind to have a lightweight bike and be a real cyclis t. My parents had been saving some of my wages in a Post Office savings acc ount since I started work. So without their permission and unknown to them I cashed the the whole amount and bought Armstrong Moth "racing" bike. When the savings book was returned with a nil balance I was in deep trouble but after a few months after I had joined the local cycle club and showing pro mise at racing , all was forgiven. From then I never looked back and enjoy ed success on road and track with my first purchase .For me , a wait of fo ur years at the age of 18 years old I had "dream bike" and many more since!
Younger persons today have a great choice of bikes and somehow it does'nt a ppear too long before they are able to buy one. Parents today seem to have where with all to finance and subsidise their siblings with the easier ways to pay for the goods. It is very sad when I see the majority of these newl y purchased machines quickly becoming neglected through lack of basic maint enance and cleaning , mending a puncture it ends up in the local cycle shop !
Doug Smith
North Dorset
UK