When I was in Junior High in the 8th grade, I was already developing bicycling as a hobby. At least I commuted 4 miles a day to school and back, and also pedaled an ancient one-speed coaster-brake bike through my paper route. I found I had considerable strength from the waist down, and wondered if I was strong enough to lift the front end of our VW bug entirely off the ground. So one Friday evening, I laid a flashlight down next to the left-front tire, pointed at the rock wall on the opposite side of the car. Then, I squatted and slid my legs under the front bumper so I could lift it using the tops of my thighs. All I had to do was flex my thighs and gastrocs a bit, and both front tires went up 2 inches in the air.
A few months later, I was on my bike waiting for the light at Baseline on 20th Street, and I noticed that my English teacher, Mr. Reno, was in his yellow Volvo Sport wagon just ahead. I used the same trick to lift the rear of his Volvo off the ground. When the light turned green, Mr. Reno tried to drive off, but his wheels just spun. I hadn't managed to get the rear entirely off the ground, but there were patches of ice from a recent snowstorm. It was enough to keep him from being able to go forward. I set the back end of his car back down and then he drove away.
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