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I remember the day in 2003 when we moved back to the U.S. and I paid extra at the car dealership for a fancy boating hitch in the mini-van JUST to be able to use a 5-bike rack for family excursions. The kids were little (10, 8, and 5 yrs old) and amenable to biking trips - the 15 mile ride in the Everglades being the most memorable. But the truth is that we didn't use that rack that often, then, let alone now. We only use our 2-bike rack. So the 5-bike rack has to go - craigslist here we go.
But what about the bikes? My objective is to have 2 bikes max when we move to NYC. Last count, we had 7 bikes in the garage! How is that possible? We are only 5 people and 2 of the kids don't even have their own bikes in our house. Well, I discovered that one of the bikes was left behind by my son's friend 3+ years ago - and never claimed! Is that ours by default? If this kid doesn't claim it as soon as he comes home from college it's out the door.
Then there are the other 6 bikes: 3 of them are mine and these days I only use my Trek hybrid. So time to get rid of my oldies! The first one was easy to dispose of. I responded to a wanted ad on the Moms Sale facebook page and within a week was able to sell this nice Brazilian aluminum bike to a young woman who needed transportation to her nanny job. But, oh, with my second bike I am having a hard time parting. I love my Peugeot mountain bike - its been with me 25 years - and I keep refurbishing it! It went on many biking "dates" with Alain's old Bianchi but we know they have to go.
Fortunately, at the bikeshop near us I stumbled upon the Westchester Cycling Club program "Bikes4Kids" which collects bikes for foster children. Well today we loaded the car and there they went. They told me I could get a tax deduction but I told the guy that there was not price for sentimental value - was that corny or what?
We are now down to 3 bikes, our 2 bikes and our son's who will take his to college next year.... on to the next chapter!
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