TOD:
I had a tricycle when I was little, but I don't know much more about that.
When I was 7, my grandfather gave me a bicycle for Christmas. It was as high as I was tall (as I recall). I was excited but confused. When I was lifted onto the seat, my feet wouldn't reach the pedals. At some point during the day, the bicycle disappeared with my grandfather. Later, he reappeared with a smaller bicycle, much-used with faded paint. I was disappointed I was getting someone's seconds (or thirds), but it was pointed out to me (by my mother, in private, in my bedroom) that this bicycle was better for me because I could actually learn to ride it. I did learn to ride it, and after a while, I loved it dearly.
For my 8th birthday, Santa brought me a big boy's bicycle...all shiny (red) and with multi-colored streamers on the ends of each hand grip. I had grown quite a bit since the year before and I was able to mount the bicycle from my front porch steps. My feet reached the pedals and generally stayed on them as I rode down the street with only the occasional wobble.
That was my last bicycle at home and it lasted quite a few years. I don't know when or why I stopped riding.
My next bicycle came a number of years later when I was in the Navy and assigned to Vicenza, Italy (1973-75). When I finally found an apartment, transportation was my main concern. I could walk to work (it would take about 25 minutes), but Vicenza was a northern climate and when it was cold it was COLD. I bought a bicycle that served me extremely well during my time there. In addition, I bought a 1963 Fiat 1300 from my Italian teacher's father. It ran "most of the time" and was great during really inclement weather, but the bicycle was my go-to transportation because of its maneuverability and the easiness of parking it anywhere. Additionally, Vicenza would often have days of extremely dense fog and bicycling around made me feel safer than driving.
After I left Vicenza, I never bought another bicycle. I'm figuring that when I retire, I'll probably bicycle around Johnston SC quite a bit, so I have that to look forward to.
