[djg]

I guess I'd count the Gitane Junior Racer I got at the age of 13 ... mystery steel tubing, simplex gearing, and a hard plastic saddle. That was the transition from bombing around on stingrays into something like cycling. Not that there's a darn thing wrong with bombing around on stingrays.

But for racing I'd start in college with a Raleigh I got out of a container that had been destined for France. 1980. 531 pipes and a mix of mostly french componenents. Very light for its day and lively. I added a set of race wheels I bought used. Record high flange hubs laced to fiamme rims. Clement tubbies and it flew. I did my first couple of seasons of racing on that bike--wish I still had it.