"My Childhood Bike Returns" set wheels to spinning this morning and so I lurched back 61 years in time, it's kind of what the internet can do, you "Google" and wait...you never know.

"Hmm...Coast-to-Coast Bicycle" yep nothing, OK take a spin on the Ebay, no, no, no,....Holy!.....a 1960s catalog and there it was the Coast-to-Coast Electra bicycle, frame tank, rocket double D battery fender light, pull back bars, and carry your friend extra strength rear rack:



Available in either a "58lbs" or "50lbs" model both outweighing my 48lbs. What a temptation to pick up that catalog, but what a torture, easier to find a one of TDF race bike than this as these bikes were truly used up by us who road and road and road them, besides hold onto a 58 or 50 lbs. bike?

But it all started here, to borrow from the Leo Kotki (sp?) song "I guess I owe it all to Pamela Brown", yes I owe it all to that gold yellow Coast-to-Coast Electra, all that freedom, journey, life I've lived on a bike.

Thank you old friend.

Even worse when you find a Craigslist ad for your childhood bike for sale. Good luck resisting.

LOL I see that there was a "jet wing rear luggage carrier" on the Electra, while the "Gold Coaster II" has both the "jet wing rear carrier" now with "chrome rails" and additional "jet stream front truss rods". I finally note many of the models came with "Flamboyant" paint. The "Riveria" even came with pedals that included "jewels and ball bearings".

Though I don't recall much lift off the "jet wing" other than when I would hit a particularly bad rut in a dirt/gravel logging road and "fly" into the ditch.