I remember the joy of getting a lime green Schwinn for Hanukkah 35 years ago when I was 15. It weighed a zillion pounds, the shifters were stiff, and the brakes hardly worked, but who cared. It whisked me around my suburban town and introduced me to the perfect traveling speed -- fast enough to cover ground and slow enough to look down every alley and driveway. Fast enough to get me to my girlfriend's house and fast enough to get me away when her parents arrived.

This year we bought our 15-year-old son a LeMond Etape road bike...blue, black and shiny as all get out. It's such a better machine than I ever had, but his reaction was the same -- untempered joy. He rides constantly (with helmet) around town and beyond, extending his horizons and his independence. His arms and legs are getting thicker and his hair is forever windswept, even when he's standing still.

Now I'm am researching a road bike for myself and we're planning trips around the county. I'm thrilled.

Thank you Gene for a analog reminder, both nostalgic and expectant, of the power of two wheels and the promise of the open road. Merry Christmas! -- Eric J. Adams