I was just the opposite, in 71 (at 7) I got a Schwinn 10 speed Varsity in the middle of Dallas (Inwood and Northaven). I had to hold the bike at a 30 degree angle to keep from racking myself. That bike lasted me till it was stolen in college in 87. I bought a speedometer for it and tracked my highest speed 48 mph and mileage. The odometer went up to 999 miles and I stopped tracking the turnovers at 8 in '80 (probably cause of the car). I remember seeing it and likeing the bike, but hating the color (brown). That was one tough bike, in '87 all but tubes, tires and one pedal were original equipment.