The Bike Hive

I still remember the first time I noticed that a bike shop had opened 3 blocks from my house.  I was 9 or 10 years old and we were on the way back from shopping somewhere.   I didn't get to stop in that time, we just drove by and I remember yelling to my mom that there was a bike shop where the small grocery store used to be. I'm not sure why that memory has always stuck with me - maybe because it was such a big part of my childhood. It was actually a long time - a year or more I bet -  before I got the chance to stop in.   The first time I'd ever been to a real bike shop.  This wasn't a huge store like many are today - it was small with maybe 25 bikes in stock, but i t was magical.  So many shiny new bikes!  It may as well been an art gallery.  I still remember the brown speckled carpet.   I loved that place. My brother and I became regulars at the store.  We were there several times a week, every week, for years.   T he owner got to know us, whether he liked it or n