Coming up on my 50 year anniversary of cycling, major props to my guardian angel for watching my back so well over the years, I'd be dead eight times over, without him.
I had a 20" Sears "Spyder" (a knockoff of the Schwinn Sting Ray) with butterfly handlebars, banana seat, and coaster brake. Somehow my body adapted to riding that miscarriage of a bicycle around everywhere. I built ramps and did Evel Kneivel-style jumps (as was the fashion in those days). I pulled on the bars so hard, the stem eventually broke and my dad arc-welded it back together. I think he arc-welded a pedal back on as well. The spokes in the rear wheel were all loose from me torquing on them, I got used to that too.
I never locked the bike up, rode it to school, and everywhere else. My parents got their $59.95 worth out of that purchase.