One rainy afternoon, I stumbled upon a garage sale while walking home from work. I wasn’t looking for anything in particular—until I saw it. Tucked between old lamps and dusty books was a vintage blue bicycle, slightly rusted but still sturdy. The price tag read: $50. I hadn’t ridden a bike in years, but something about it called to me. Maybe it was the way the handlebars curved, or the faded sticker of a sun on the frame. The owner, an elderly man, smiled as I inspected it. That old thing’s been sitting in my garage for a decade, he said. "But it’s got good bones. Just needs a little love." I handed him the cash, wheeled it home, and spent the weekend cleaning, oiling the chain, and patching the tires. By Monday, it was rideable. The First Ride That Led to an Adventure The next morning, instead of taking the bus, I hopped on my $50 bike. The wind in my face, the freedom of moving under my own power—it was exhilarating. I started tak...