The evolving bicycle

How cool! A bicycle with a hidden electric motor

It looks like an off-road bike with fat tires.
But it's equipped with an electric motor to switch on when you want a break from peddling.
I like it.

How about an electric bike that folds to fit in your backpack.
I like it.

Remember scooters and mopeds?

I hadn't been on a bicycle in about 20 years.
A couple years ago I spotted a 21-speed Mongoose bike at an outdoor flea market and I couldn't
walk away from it. It was as if it was meant for me. 100 bucks and it was mine.

I spent 80 bucks for padded biking shorts and shelled out 20 bucks to exchange the narrow bike seat for a softer, wider, more comfortable one, which was a necessity for my tush.
Then 4 bucks for a helmet I found at a thrift store and I was set. All I lacked was some nice weather and a bike path so I could start riding.

I remember two Schwinn bikes I had when I was younger. One was blue and Dad took a photo of me sitting on it. I was probably about eight years old. It's one of my treasured photos because it reminds me of one-on-one time with my Dad.  (Another treasured photo is of the both of us taken inside a Sears store at a camera counter. Dad is holding me and the moment is preserved on Polaroid film when Polaroids were the newfangled cameras to own). Seeing images develop before your eyes was one of those cool thing from the 60's era, like when we could watch television in living color. But back to my other bike.

image from google images

My other Schwinn bike was a 3-speed and it was black in color. I took that bike to college and because it was a heavy bike, I got an excellent cardio and leg workouts peddling the hills around Davenport, Iowa in the early 80's. I had that bike when I was in the Marines, too. My favorite uncle in Chicago bought it for me. I remember when he took me to the Schwinn bike shop. I was so proud of that bike. Chicago most likely was where the bike was manufactured- and it had the classic Schwinn head badge. To this day, I haven't a clue what happened to either of my trusted Schwinn bikes. (other than color, this bike is the closest I can find of how my bike looked).

My Mongoose bike was made for off-road riding. I set a date and had a friend and my dog with me to drive three miles to the other end of the bike path I had chosen I'd conquer on the Mongoose.
Well, I never got far. Matter of fact, I didn't get more than thirty feet when the gear chain broke. Then after a year or so of seeing it parked on my front porch with the broken chain, I got tired of looking at it and gave it away.

I have a goal to ride a good part of the Silver Comet and the Chief Ladiga Trails. (61.5 and 33 miles respectively.)
And, the plan is to do this on a rental bike.