BMXs suddenly appeared to be everywhere: in blockbuster movies like ET; being ridden by the Red Hand Gang; there was even a British TV programme, something akin to Kick Start, for BMXs. I more than just wanted a BMX - I needed one.

The brand was Highway, but that wasn't important, what was important was that it was a polished silver frame, with a white (hard plastic) saddle, and padded thing on the handlebars to mitigate damage in any faceplant situations. It was different from anyone else's BMX, which resembled those in the bright colours seen on the telly, and I loved it.

I didn't learn any tricks you realise. Not one. Couldn't even bunny-hop till years later on a mountain bike. But this bike just went and went and went.

At least for a few years anyway until the Mountain Bikes came on the scene. I had resisted the Grifter with it's large frame and large wheels - it felt unwieldy, but having grown some the MTB suddenly seemed an attractive choice. But my parents couldn't afford it, so while those round me hopped on their dayglo pink and green steeds of the day I shunned the luxury of gears and carried on behind on my BMX.

But then it arrived. One birthday, without warning. I had opened all my presents, and my parents explained to me that things were hard at the moment so I might have to wait for something from them. I was happy with this. I was 13. Grown up. A teenager. I could understand these adult concerns. I was asked to make a cup of tea, and there, in the kitchen..... An Emmelle Cougar 12.

And then the heavens opened. I got one lap of our cul-de-sac, and in that short moment fell in love with the big heavy nature of the bike, the huge 26" wheels, and playing with gears for the first time. I had previously been slightly wary of this development after watching an older boy, on a Cougar coincidentally, having his gears slip as he hurtled downhill at what must have been about 900 miles and hour, stopping his progress on the tarmac with his face.

But these were my gears. And I loved them.

And this was yet another bike that was ridden to death. Whatever happened to the bombproof nature of bikes that you only occasionally needed to change a cable?

I then went through a period where I grew out of bikes - they were toys I guess (how little I knew, but thought I knew) and I went to uni having left the bike behind. It wasn't until 4 years later when I got a job 5 miles from the campus, and discovered my hatred of public transport, that I once again indulged in a bike. Another MTB (it wasn't until another 5 or 6 years later that I discovered the joy of road bikes) my Falcon Scorpion was bought from Argos, lived its entire life outside, and never once let me down.

The rest, as they say, is history. My interest rekindled partly due to my much younger brother discovering mountain biking) I now have a mountain bike, road bike, and fixie taknig up space in the garage. But my best memory will ways be walking into the kitchen on my 13th birthday - it's those moments that life is l about...

Tell us about your bike history!
Email mybike@citycyling.co.uk and explain the roots of your own particular love of cycling