Sweetheart

(Ninth in a series of stories about every bike I've ever owned.)

Here I am awaiting the start of the infamous 1998 4th of July alley cat race on my first road bike and first Miyata. I paid a mere $100 for this light and fast red ten speed. I found it at the Mill Valley bike swap, took it home and wrapped the bars with pink Benoto tape.

I raced on this bike, had my first 5000 mile year on it, toured with it and became a messenger with it. I ended up trading it for a different Miyata after learning during a fitting that a 56cm bike was way too big for me. I cried when I learned I couldn't ride it anymore.