This post is little more than a thinly veiled (though true) excuse to rant on about the genius creation that is the bicycle.
Even when the bike had no chain and the rider simply sat astride a pair of wheels and some sort of frame it was pretty good. Then it just got better. The current layout has remained reasonably unchanged for a hundred years, largely because it was so well thought out in the first place.
It has gradually got lighter, with better bearings, better comfort and better reliability, but what you see today ain’t that different to what your great grand father would have been riding many decades ago. But while the real cost of a car and indeed many essentials of modern life has decreased the real cost of a top quality bike has gone through the roof.
Racers go further, faster, and have more crazily honed bodies.
But down on the street we’re happy crusing. There’s a retro scene with fixed wheel bikes all over most cities, even the hilly ones, brands like Pashley turn out beautiful machines that look uber cool and are comfortable too.
The pride and joy though is just too easy to steal, and not many folks would leave theirs outside any more.
We give you The Bicycle. The most efficient man powered transport.