In my early 20's I was riding a Raleigh on the Gettysburg Battlefield Bike Tour route and a psycho in a pickup truck ran me off the road into a field. Riders behind me saw him whip the wheel to the right and had no doubt it was on purpose. No injury to me or bike but gave up riding. I happened so suddenly and of course the gutless wonder punk sped off before we could get a license number and no cell phones to call police with description.

Fast forward about 30 years and I saw a K-Mart All Pro step thru 3 speed in nice condition out for garbage pickup. Threw it in the back of the pickup figuring I'd get a few bucks for it at a flea market.

In the mean time I remembered a local rail trail had just opened so not having to worry about some spineless idiot I gave it a try. Rode it many times that summer and enjoyed it before I found a "manly" Huffy 10 speed on the curb for free. Humble beginnings that rekindled my desire for something I have enjoyed for the past 20 years.

Wish I'd kept that All Pro (gave it to the Rescue Mission) as I owed it a lot for the many years of enjoyment then and now.

Still buying step thru's though. Here's a 1922 Columbia Westfield I just purchased.