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For a man in his 70s, retiree Dale Richie is in great shape.
That is due, in no small part, to the fact that for many years, the city resident rode a 15-speed mountain bike all over the place.
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Dale Richie
"I rode that bike to work all the time," said Richie, a Sunbury native who retired three years ago from Giant Food Store in Loyalsock Township where, as he put it, "I did a little of everything, stocked shelves, mopped floors."
"I've been riding bikes since I was a kid," he said.
Richie used to cut grass for a local psychologist, who gave him the mountain bike several years ago as a gift.
"I really flew on that thing, too," said Richie, who was employed at the supermarket chain for 18 years. He also was formerly employed at Carey-McFall and the former Tea Room in Williamsport.
"I used to ride that bike all over town. I rode it real fast," he added.
Autumn is one of his favorite seasons. He thoroughly enjoyed riding around and seeing how the leaves changed colors.
"I like when the leaves turn gold and brown, all different colors," he said.
Richie's enjoyment with his bike came to an abrupt end one day last year when someone stole it outside his city home.
"I had it locked up outside my place. They took bolt cutters and cut the chain," Richie said.
No one ever has been charged and the bike's whereabouts are unknown.
Richie has no car and to get around now, and he depends on public transportation.
"I felt bad" when the bike was stolen, Richie said. "It was a good bike. I put some money into that bike. When I told my landlord about it, he said, 'That's a dirty deal. That's downright dirty.' "
Richie said he was thinking about getting another bike some day but until then, he'll be riding the bus.
