When I left the manufacturing plant where I was born, I had no idea of what was on the road ahead of me. As it was, I left the plant not completely assembled. I was in a cardboard box with my handlebars beside me along with my tires and wheels. My peddles and a few smaller parts and my seat were in little bags and a box or two. I didn’t feel complete but I had a feeling I was in for an adventure.
Early the next morning, I heard a rustling not far away. I had been delivered to a bike shop and the owner was coming in to open up his shop for another day of business. It guessed it was a day like any other day as I heard him whistling as he went about his routine. He seemed like he was happy in his work and I guessed that being a bike shop owner was a result of his love of the ride and biking in general. It was only a matter of time when I heard him approach my boxed up condition. I could not wait any longer. I wanted out and I wanted to explore.
At the factory where I was built, I was exposed to all sorts of people who were in charge of different aspects of bike building and as I came to a state of conciseness I knew that most were doing their job and for the most part seemed pretty happy. This bike shop owner was different. I could tell right off the bat because as he approached me he started talking to me even before he opened my box.
“Well, well, well, what do we have here?” he said. “I’ll bet you just dying to get out of that box and take a look around”. Now this was different than my experiences at the factory and confirmed my very first hunch. As he opened the box and lifted me out I was greeted by fit but older man. “Hi there, My name is Joe and I’ll be your assembler today” he smirked.
Joe placed me in a bike jig that held me safely in the air and pulled up a rolling chair to take inventory of all of my loose array of parts. “It looks like everything is here “ he said, then stopped”… Humm, wait a minute, your handlebar stem riser is missing. Well sometimes these things happen. “ he said not deterred by the missing part. Thoughtfully he looked around his shop from where he sat. “Ah Ha. I have just the thing for you, a buddy of mine, Tom, is producing bicycle components and has made quite a name for himself building a new kind of off road bike or mountain bike, he calls it”.
There was as gleam of pride and a bit of excitement in his eye as he completed my final assembly and ran through a test and tune process. “Now, my friend, you are complete, I think we’ll call you Rich, short for the name on your new handle bar riser. Come with me. you’ve seen the shop, now it time to see the showroom and I’ll introduce you to the others as we begin your adventure in this new life”.
He rolled me to a double door that swung open to reveal the morning sun blasting through the large front windows. It was a bit blinding and it took a while for me to focus. Once I did I saw a showroom full of new and not so new bikes. It was amazing. I felt a tingle go through my frame. Joe yelled out in a voice of proud announcement. “Everyone, I’d like to introduce you to RICH, he is the newest member of our family. Make him feel welcome and take a minute to introduce yourselves”.
Joe placed me near the front door and positioned me so that I could see everyone and anyone who came into the store. “WOW, is this really happening? Am I really here?” I couldn’t have believed that my life could be so wonderful and a bit scary because I wasn’t sure what to expect next.
A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR:
Hi I’m Tim Ritchey, I’m not a writer, I suffer from a limited vocabulary, bad grammar, and I think enough is spelled “ENUFF”.
That being said, I’m a lifelong cyclist, an inventor, and designer. This story has been brewing in my head for years and I thought I'd put it out there to see if anyone thinks I should continue writing. It’s a bit of a play on my own life but also it’s based on my experiences with friends and fellow cyclist. The twist on this story is how I’m telling it. As you read above, you can see, the story is not about you and I, or is it? Take a ride with “Rich” as he starts his new life and see what adventures await and be ready to meet some very interesting people on this multi year ride.
Let me know if you want to learn more.
Tim
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