Homage To My HomeGrown Titanium Mountain Bike

I need a break from editing. I have an idea. Think I'll hop on my 21-speed and top off some errands today. Before I do, I better lube up the chain and pump some air back into the tires. Oh, my beautiful Schwinn S96 with Rock Shox, how I've neglected you lately. You served me so well in my twenties too - winning me a handful of trophies in competition races and introducing me to other athletes in the area. You took me biking down Palomar Mountain in '96 and saved me high priced ferry rides to Martha's Vineyard. You didn't need much maintance but I tinkered with your stock Judy XC fork anyway and replaced your skinny saddle with something more accommodating. One day, when I had just moved to this quiet little town, you tossed me over your handlebars like a bucking bronco. It was actually the ditches fault. Damn ditches! Why do they make them so steep? Bloody and bruised I walked you back home, all 10 miles - or at least it felt like 10. Sadly, now, you simply hang from the garage wall like a dingy old fur coat, collecting dust and needing a new home. Well, today is different. Today, I'm taking you for a ride. Just to the bank, post-office and pharmacy - I'll break you in easy this time. I'm afraid I'm no longer the marathon biker I used to be and your getting a little rusty yourself. :)