I am going to buy myself one of those cruiser style bicycles – you know the ones that have that retro look with big tires and a heavy frame with wide bars.

I am going to get me a 3-speed cruiser. 

Earlier this week, I texted my buddy asking if I could borrow his cruiser for a few days.  He replied that he would never see his bike again. But, he also okayed me using the bike for a while. He admonished me not to "[expletive] up" the bike. 

I have had me some fun on that cruiser this week.  It is fun to ride – and it draws attention – lots of attention.

Felt is the company that makes the bicycle that my buddy lent me.  Felt makes high-end bicycles in many categories, among them road, mountain, track, urban, fitness, BMX, and cruiser.  It sells bicycle parts and clothing, and sponsors a bicycle race team. 

Chief is the name of the Felt model I rode.  It is a 3-speed and sweet-looking as all get out (just look at the attached photo). It even has coaster brakes and a kickstand. 

Here I will share a bit of the Felt Chief riding experience. 

I was riding the bike early afternoon along Washington Street/Route 138, just beyond Joe Correira's Plaza, and a mechanic standing in front of his shop smiled and said to me, "Nice bike."

About a half hour later, while I was enjoying a coffee and sandwich and reading the newspaper at the Dunkin' Donuts located alongside the entrance to the Easton Industrial Park, I saw two gentleman outside talking to each other and looking at the bike – which I had parked next to the store entrance.

That night, early evening, at about 6:30, I was up on Highland Street, riding the Chief cruiser to an appointment I had with an Oliver Ames High School student I tutor on Oldfield Drive.  I was riding with a shoulder bag in which I had my laptop computer.  A man was standing in front of his house; he called to me, "Nice bike." 

On the way home, after the tutoring session, I was riding along Depot Street, heading east, and only 50 yards or so from where Depot St. intersects with Washington Street/Route 138.  A boy, maybe 11 or 12, was sitting on a stoop in front of his home, and he smiled and yelled to me, "Nice bike."

This had become a pattern. 

I have been peddling that bike miles and miles through town.  And what a blast.   Here I am, a 48 year old man – albeit one ensnared in a prolonged adolescence – and I am like a kid again on that bike.  Body and soul have been enriched through sprinting on the bike, peddling slowly and lazily, ferociously tackling hills, and coasting and picking up speed downhill. 

I rode the Chief during the day and in the evening. 

I even gathered up some nice speed the other night and went back to days of yore, as I stood up on the pedals and coasted.  It was sort of my Leonardo DiCaprio "I'm the king of the world" moment in Titanic.

On Wednesday afternoon, I threw on the shoulder bag (with laptop inside) again, and hopped on the Chief and rode it over to the Starbucks on Belmont Street/Route 138 near the Easton-Brockton line.  I parked the bike right outside the front window of the store, where I could keep an eye on it.  I got myself a coffee, a pastry, and sat in a comfy chair next to the window, and fired up the laptop. 

Soon along outside came a man, who was, I would say in his mid to late 70s.  He stopped to look at the bike; he took a step and then looked at the bike from another angle. He stepped back to where he first looked at the bike, and from that spot he again moved his eyes over the Chief. Really, he must have studied and looked over the bike for 30 seconds. 

Later on Wednesday, in early evening, I was peddling the bike through North Easton Village.  I rode up Park Street.  Standing outside his business, Dealers Choice Auto Body, was Bob Howard and his love of a dog, Jake, a lab/pit bull mix. 

I stopped and chatted with Bob briefly, and I as I rode off he said, "That's some bike you got there." 

I then peddled through Frothingham Park and out to Barrows Street.   I peddled hard and fast up the hill to Frothingham Hall and the Schoolhouse Apartments. I went across Lincoln Street near the Rockery, and then coasted down the sidewalk in front of Oakes Ames Hall.

About 200 meters further along, on Main Street, who did I run in to but my nephew, Creighton, who will be a senior at Fordham University this coming school year.  He was out for a stroll and listening to some music on his headphones. Creighton and I talked.

Creighton looked at the Chief and said, "That is a really nice bike." 

He’s not going to get any argument from me.  

Alas, I need to bring the bike back to my friend – but not until a few days from now.  

And I have been looking at the Felt website, evaluating and deciding which one its cruisers is best for me.

I hope to see you out there soon, while I'm peddling my own cruiser.