Budget Box Bargain - Micro Mini Monkey Bikes

     We all look for bargains when we shop.  It's good feeling to know that you got a good deal on an item you purchased.  In the current day many of us including me look to the Internet (eBay, Craigslist, etc.) to find our bargains.  A few years ago (15 to 20) even though the Internet was available, my bargain hunting was confined to the newspaper specifically the bargain box. I used to like to check the bargain box on Saturday morning to see if there were any interesting things for sale that I could not live without.

     One of the best finds for me was finding the Micro Mini Monkey bikes.  One Saturday morning while perusing through the bargains I was shocked to find someone selling a Micro Mini Monkey bike for $20.  Wow, this can't be, I immediately knew without question that I couldn't live without this bike.  Now some of you shockingly may be wondering what the hell is a Micro Mini Monkey bike.  Despite my surprise that you are asking, I will explain.  These are the super small bikes that the monkeys, sometimes clowns ride to entertain the circus crowds.  Being a cyclist this find excited me like a kid.  I immediately called and went to buy this bike.  I could not believe my luck in finding this treasure or the fact that no one else saw the value enough to beat me to this prize.  I brought my newly purchased micro bike home with a big smile on my face and road around the driveway.  Mimi did not understand my enthusiasm for the bike. She never knew that I wanted one, truth be known I didn't either until this one became available.

     My life is now complete, but no I had another great idea.  We exchanged Christmas presents with our good friends (John & Cindy) and like me, John was a cyclist so what better present could I get for another cyclist than a Micro Mini Monkey Bike but what was the chance I would find a second one in the bargain box.  So determined but skeptical that I would stumble on another micro bike I searched the bargain box for many weeks and to my surprise I found someone selling 2 bikes $10 each.  I called him and said I would be right down.  Again, I arrived first to purchase the micro bike, I was pleased but confused as to why no one else showed an interest in these bargains, still to this day I can't figure it out.  I picked out the one I wanted without questioning the $10 price when the seller said if you take both you can have them for $15.  Wow! what a deal but there was one problem I only had $11 in my pocket, man this stinks.  I told him the problem and that I was definitely interested in both but I would have send him the extra $4 in the mail as soon as got home.  I'm sure he could see my interest and enthusiasm when he said just give me the $11 and take them.  Holy Crap! two micro mini bikes for $11 that's crazy.  Man! was I on a lucky streak.

     So when Christmas came I gave John his Micro Mini Monkey bike and he was surprised and as pleased as I was to give it to him. Now I still had a 2nd bike from my last purchase which I kept until our son (Patrick) also a cyclist moved into his own place after college.  The micro mini bike was the last thing I threw in the truck (without him knowing) when he packed up his belongings.  He rode it when he got to his new place.

     I don't ride the micro mini bike much but I took it to a Boeing T45 picnic and setup a timed bike race with cones.  It was funny to watch all the adults try to ride this micro bike.  That alone was worth the $20 I paid for the bike.  Also, my son Pat and I took the micro bikes out on the reopening of Hwy 40 (Bellevue) when the highway department let cyclist ride on Hwy 40 before the official opening. We didn't ride far but we got a lot of looks and cheers as we pedaled down the highway.   Say it one more time out loud "Micro Mini Monkey Bike" doesn't to make you chuckle a bit, at least smile. You probably secretly would like to ride one, if so call me, I can set you up.  Life is good.