A Common Bond

theshrew13

• May 24 2002
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As clique-ish as BMX can seem sometimes, there always comes a point when I am reminded that we all share a common bond, and just seeing someone on the road with bikes on their car can put a smile on your face. This very thing happened to me yesterday while I was on my way home from work. When I hit the 405 freeway and began heading north, I noticed a SUV with two bikes on the back and BMX stickers plastering the rear window. The guy in the passenger seat kept holding up a sign as the car pulled alongside other vehicles and as soon as they got a response (which was usually a quick lane change to get away from the BMXers) the guys would crack up laughing and then wait until they found a new victim to start the game all over again. After about 15 minutes I ended up next to them and I made a motion to ask what they were doing. The passenger held the sign up and it read, “Show Us Boobs.” Upon seeing this I cracked a smile and grabbed the only thing I had in my car that was BMX related, a Base Brooklyn sweatshirt, and showed it to him. An instant look of recognition came across his face and he returned with the question, “Do you ride?” as he pretended to hold handlebars. When I responded by nodding my head, he got excited and immediately told the other passengers what was going on.

I have no idea who they are, where they’re from, or whether we would be friends if we ever met, but for that moment, we shared the common bond of BMX. We weren’t at a park, we weren’t at the trails, and I didn’t even have my bike with me, but BMX still linked us together. I don’t know about you, but to me, that’s pretty damn cool.