I Remember When with Milton Rendell

Do you remember getting your first bike? Dad had some old bikes he said I could ride and seriously they were a death trap as they had what they called fixed wheels in those days and for the those who don’t know what that means is basically no foot brakes. You just kept riding in my case as kid into a tree as may legs where not strong enough to brake or you used your feet which isn’t ideal most of us didn’t wear shoes.

My first real bike I recall was a blue thunderbird my sisters bought it for me I can’t remember how old I was but I thought it was the bee’s knees. Before that I use to find any excuse to ride other kids bikes Ian Coghill used to always have the latest bikes so he come over and I would take off with his bike and of course fall off it as you do as a boy trying to learn what to do and go as fast as you could. He had a Dragster with high bars, hand brakes and a banana seat they were very popular but not cheap.

Steve Kelly lived in Hugh Street which was the next street from us in Guildford, Steve was an innovator he use make up his own bikes he was a couple of years older than me and a funny guy. He used to make up these bikes like chopper motor cycles with long front forks and big wide handle bars. In those times you would have a small wheel at the back with long front forks with a bigger wheel at the front. I think everyone thought they were Peter Fonda from the movie Easy Rider.

We were all at the stage we were starting to grow our hair longer so was flapping in the breeze with these chopper looking bikes oh my goodness the kids today would think we were freaks but we use to think we were cool. No shoes no helmets we still survived mind you my poor toes took a bit of punishment when my foot slipped off the pedal most young boys had the top knock off their toe more than once we were tough in those days.

– Milton Rendell, CEO – Real Estate Plus Group