My first "serious" bike was a shiny (Diamond Back Harry Larry??) BMX with those crazy old "Nylon" star/mags for wheels.

It took me to far away, exotic, and exciting places, un-be-knownst to my mom, who would have killed me if she'd known I was ridning clear across Milwaukee to spend my allowence at this new thing called the "Video game arcade"

It allowed me to make new friends and to ride with the much older and cooler guys... It allowed our "gang" to explore the entire VA Hospital grounds and the woods that surround it.....We explored the railroad tracks at the old US Steel plant, Rexnord, Allis Chalmers, Briggs & Stratton, and Grafs Soda.....And we ALWAYS stopped at a working-Man's tavern in the industrial section where for $0.45 the nice old gent sold us 7UP in a genuine beer glass and Whatchamacallit candy bars.....The best candy bars ever....Our mom's would have tanned our hides for that....
We rode to the "Moon Fun Shop" daily to look at black light posters....Again, our mom's would have killed us for that...Because they called it "That filthy head shop with the pipes in back.."

Bikes were a CRITICAL ASPECT OF PARTICIPATING in culture.
I think kids today have a very different set of priorities...Do they even make friends like that anymore?? Yes, I'm sure there are still a few cool kids, but more who prefer text-messaging is unfortunate..

The freedom my early/childhood bikes gave me has never been surpassed, but riding my new Paramount in the Rocky Mtn's might match it