I found myself in what was becoming a familiar position. I was sitting in another banker’s office, trying to convince someone that providing a place for young people to ride bikes and skateboards was worth the risk.

I found myself in what was becoming a familiar position. I was sitting in another banker’s office, trying to convince someone that providing a place for young people to ride bikes and skateboards was worth the risk.

The first thing I noticed about Frank was his bike. It was a blue GT with a pink seat, and it looked small beneath him. Frank was a tall guy, and everything about him stood out from the rest of us—especially the full pads and full-face helmet. (Most of us didn’t wear much protective gear back then, if any.) I wasn’t sure what to think of him. Then he started riding.