Every Gen X kid remembers the day they got their first bike. Not the dinky one with the training wheels, but their first real, big-kid bike. That was the vehicle that would take us all over town, it was our answering machine, it was our sacred companion. A kid’s bike was a measure of their coolness, durability, and ultimately, how awesome of a kid they were willing to be. So who were you back then?

Growing up as a latchkey kid, Gen X kids were on their own. Mom and Dad had no clue how far we would ride that bike, but once we were let loose on the streets, nothing could stop us (except our curfew, which was always timed to when the streetlights came on). So for those of us who cherish our first bike and the freedom it gave us, scroll onward to enjoy a nostalgic collection of Gen X memes for the ‘forgotten generation’ that’ll never forget the good ol’ days.