I must have been one dumb, stupid kid. What's with all these 'rear racks' and 'baskets' you guys are talking about? All I had were those huge canvas bags with straps that I'd wind several turns around the handlebar grip to keep them from sliding off, or sliding down to the goose neck. Thank goodness there wasn't any OSHA around those days, else they would have put a stop to that post haste. The bags just hung loose from the tops of the handlebars and sometimes rubbed on the tires.

From the age we were first allowed to be paper boys until high school track and field interfered with afternoon deliveries, I delivered the Los Angeles Herald Examiner. Since the L.A. Times was the morning paper, the Herald was the afternoon paper. I loved Saturdays! The paper was so thin that they folded easily and packed tightly. Only problem is that they didn't toss as far because they weren't very heavy. I absolutely hated Sundays. The Sunday paper was so thick that I could only deliver half my route, then have to go home to pack up the other half, and head out to deliver them.

But in one regard, I really did love the Sunday delivery because the city was MINE! There was nobody out and about. I owned the city. For awhile in high school, I delivered the Montrose Ledger. It was only a twice-weekly local paper and it wasn't as much 'fun' delivering that, and by that time, other things commanded my interests.

I think I made about $32 a month and usually purchased all of my own clothes with the money. Not sure how that happened. Maybe I just got tired of wearing hand-me-downs all the time.

I think I used two different bikes during those times. At first, a black three-speed Strumey-Archer with fenders. So, it must have been a Raleigh. Later on, I used a Sting Ray.