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By Richard Coltharp
The opposite day, as I used to be driving by way of visitors, one thing very jarring caught my eye.
Another dude was driving my bicycle.
No, he hadn’t stolen it.
After I processed the picture, I figured precisely what had occurred.
I not too long ago donated the bicycle to the Hub, an area bike restore and redistribution middle created by Velo Las Cruces.
A couple of days later, I noticed the identical man and my bike at a homeless encampment. It had turn out to be a main mode of transportation for him.
That’s one thing it by no means was for me. I’m somebody who’s by no means been with no automotive, truck or SUV (and for some time, one in all every) since I used to be 16.
There have been lengthy stretches when that bicycle hung the other way up from my ceiling in my storage.
The man had strapped a milk crate to the rear bike rack I had mounted shortly after shopping for the bicycle a few years in the past.
It could not have appeared very cool, however very sensible for the brand new proprietor.
A bit over a 12 months in the past, I put my 1987 Panasonic Mountain Cat 4500 up on the market. I used to be the unique proprietor of this distinctive mountain bike. Regardless of how a lot I appreciated it, although, it was outdated. With no entrance shocks, and a heavy body, the cat was inferior to immediately’s extra up to date mountain bikes.
Simply as vehicles and vans have improved within the final 35 years, so have bicycles.
I marketed the bike as a collector’s merchandise in good situation for $265, and recognized myself as its unique proprietor. Panasonic didn’t make mountain bikes for a really lengthy interval, however because it did with stereos earlier than, it tried to do some cool issues, equivalent to a “Biopace” sprocket. Relatively than the standard spherical sprocket, Panasonic flirted with a form of kidney-bean formed sprocket with supposed ergonomic efficiencies.
I acquired a name instantly and was excited on the prospect of a fast sale.
However a sale by no means occurred. As a substitute, it was an elaborate rip-off try, and I narrowly prevented getting ripped off for $1,250. (Thanks, Pioneer Financial institution for serving to me dodge that fleecing).
So after listening to a presentation from Velo Cruces in regards to the Hub, I believed perhaps I may donate the outdated Mountain Cat.
After I took the bike to the Hub one Saturday, a number of of the folks working there acquired excited, like I’d simply introduced in proof of Bigfoot.
I questioned who would possibly wind up with my longtime prized possession, and had form of resigned myself to by no means realizing.
However when that unmistakable crimson and pearl bicycle toodled alongside beside me that day, it was a little bit of an out-of-body expertise.
And I’m grateful it’s being utilized by somebody for whom it may make a distinction.
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