The Sonic 6 Experience

It was the spring of 1991, and I had just been given a brand new Huffy Sonic 6 bicycle for my birthday. I finally had it, my very own Sonic 6! I stood there for a minute, in awe of the stick shifter, the windshield; it was everything I could have ever wanted. I was so thrilled. Plus, the icing on the cake - my parents had expanded my riding boundaries. The possibilities were endless! I was no longer a boy, I was becoming a man.

I soon took off to seek out my uncharted boundaries; new adventures were out there to be had. I could only imagine what laid in store for me. I suddenly knew what my first destination would be. I started riding northeast to the St. Patrick’s parking lot. The school and church parking lots were connected and there were some uneven spots that would make for a nice thrilling ride. Plus, the parking lot was huge; so I could ride with reckless abandon.

Oh, the fun I had. Riding all over the parking lot, going up and down the little hill connecting the lots, snaking through the church walkways; me and this bike were made for each other. Practicing shifting through all six speeds, finding the one that was just right; I was reborn. I was eleven years old, and I felt like my life had finally started.

After riding a while, I decided to move on. As much fun as I was having in the parking lot, I realized that I had a lot more new territory to explore. I turned onto the 1000 block of north Webster Street and saw a new possibility for adventure staring me right in the face. It was a house with a concrete edging around the yard about three feet high. The edging curved around the house, running parallel to the alley until they eventually were level with one another. What a perfect opportunity to get some air time on by new bike!

I rode up the alley to where I could get on the edging. The concrete was about eight inches across, and about twenty feet long, so it was hard to keep my bike on it for such a long distance. I kept getting so far and then either veering into the person's yard or back down onto the alley. Getting frustrated, I rode further down the alley so I could build up some speed before getting on the edging. Gaining speed, I made it on the edging and was riding straight and true. This was it; I finally was going to make the jump. Yes! My initial excitement instantly turned to fear as I saw the edge ending and the sidewalk below. Oh, No! I didn't realize just how high off the sidewalk I was going to be. What was I thinking? It was too late to turn back, so I held on tight and hoped for the best.

I came crashing down, my face taking the brunt of the force as I landed on the sidewalk below. My lip had been busted open and my nose was bleeding; along with some other cuts and scrapes. Even worse, I scuffed the windshield on my new bike! Defeated, I started the seemingly endless journey back home. It was only about five blocks away, but it felt like forever. The windshield on my new bike was all scratched up, and I was a bloody mess. When I got home, my mom was quick to tend to my wounds and she asked me how it happened. For fear of getting my new privileges revoked, I told her that I was riding around the block, slipped off the edge of the sidewalk and crashed. I'm not sure if she believed me, but she didn't press the issue.

Needless to say, I didn't try that stunt again, but I had many other adventures with that bike. I rode it all the time, until one fateful day, I left it in the front yard while I went inside to eat some lunch. When I came back out, my bike was gone and an old rusty ten-speed laid there in its place. My bike had been stolen, and I was devastated. I don't remember the bike I got to replace it, but I do know that I have not had as much fun with a bike since I had my Sonic 6.