When Queen released the song ‘bicycle race’ “I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike, I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride it where I like”, way back in the late seventies, cycling resources had been considerably thinner on the ground when compared with the present day.
From the invention of the walking machine in 1871 by Baron von Drais, the ‘walking machine’ as it was then labeled did not go very far, and was only a fad.
But arguably it had been the forerunner of what was known as the Velocipede, or boneshaker as it was to become known widely as, equally uncomfortable as the ‘walking machine’. For production bicycle resources were about as rare as rocking horse pooh.
Both composed of wood, both hideously uncomfortable on the bottom as well as other really sensitive areas of the body, used by men (of course) of some standing as the devices were made by hand from wood, with wooden wheels and metal tires.
Even so the forerunners of the modern-day bicycle had been made as a necessity; necessity being the mother of invention.
The inventors of these woefully inadequate machines, with none of the bicycle resources of the current day, were endeavoring to achieve a thing that almost all cyclists of today know; a freedom of travel, in a position to cover far more distance than on foot, but effectively ‘door to door’ transport, without the expense of stabling horses, and all the peripherals one needs to ride a horse.
And today, while not being the same as owning a car, owning and riding a bike gives one a independence that will only be expressed and understood by those that really ride or have ridden a bike.
And bike resources available for the modern cyclist are to be found everywhere, online shops promoting almost every size, shape and specification of bike, to towns and cities that are littered with purpose constructed cycle lanes and paths, and cycle ways that criss cross cities to aid bike riders in their journeys across towns, and where feasible, staying away from all of the heavy traffic.
In some countries in European countries, there are tax breaks intended for owners of bikes and several corporations provide financial incentives to get men and women biking, instead of using a car, to get to work.
On the whole, the accessible bicycle resources for modern cyclists are numerous. Use this web site to follow the links to find out more information about the best places to buy the very best cycles, how to maintain and repair, and also tips and features on how to enjoy the bicycle fun.