Re:
Some blue bike with 16" white tyres, given to me by a mate who was a couple of years older. Proud to say I never had stabilisers, but the rod brakes didn't work and I ended up just missing a lorry head on and hitting the kerb. Truck driver was in shock, I couldn't see what the fuss was about and all the neighbours came out to look
second bike was a Raleigh rodeo. 20" wheels, white tyres, red frame and blue mudguards and proper cabled brakes. Dad bought it in a scrappy state from a second hand junk shop and I remember he and mum cleaning it and it looked new when they had done. Me and bro continued to ride this as a teenager on the back lawn, bmx style till I passed it on
third bike was a Hercules roadster with 3 speed SA. This bike got me into cycling and I put drops and a narrower saddle on it and started riding with ctc about age 14. I can remember being jealous of a mate who had a chopper while I had this "no-cred" machine ... till we hit the hills and the chopper was a donkey