In Praise Of... The Bicycle
Cyclist Middle East|December 2017

For generations, the bicycle has been a form of transport, a social leveller, a workhorse and a gateway to freedom, adventure and romance. Not bad for a bunch of welded tubes

Trevor Ward
In Praise Of... The Bicycle

In 1869, an article in the respected US magazine Scientific American declared, ‘The art of walking is obsolete. It is true that a few still cling to that mode of transportation, and are still admired as fossil specimens of an extinct race of pedestrians, but for most of civilised humanity, walking is on its last legs.’

The cause of this sensational prediction? The humble bicycle. A couple of decades earlier on this side of the Atlantic, a newspaper in Glasgow had reported an unusual event in which ‘a gentleman bestride a velocipede of ingenious design’ knocked over a five year-old girl and was fined five shillings.

The velocipede concerned was the first incarnation of the modern bicycle – its ‘ingenious design’ being pedals attached to the back wheel by a series of piston-like rods. The rider ‘bestride’ it was its inventor, blacksmith Kirkpatrick Macmillan, who had cycled 70 miles from his home before the incident.

His design, which replaced the previous, pedal-less ‘dandy horse’ that was propelled by the rider pushing themselves along the ground with their feet, was the first stage of the bicycle’s evolution into the featherweight, computer-designed carbon fibre machines of today.

Macmillan’s daring ride along rutted cart tracks, in an age of horse-drawn vehicles and an embryonic rail network, was as groundbreaking at the time as the first email being sent 150 years later. Suddenly it was possible for ordinary folk to travel long distances under their own steam. It opened up a whole new world of opportunities for travel, work, pleasure and even romance.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der December 2017-Ausgabe von Cyclist Middle East.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der December 2017-Ausgabe von Cyclist Middle East.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS CYCLIST MIDDLE EASTAlle anzeigen
Dear UCI
Cyclist Middle East

Dear UCI

With Brian Cookson out and David Lappartient in, Felix Lowe writes an open letter to the new president of the UCI

time-read
3 Minuten  |
December 2017
Canyon Ultimate WMN CF SLX
Cyclist Middle East

Canyon Ultimate WMN CF SLX

Canyon has finally decided that, yes, women do need their own race bike

time-read
5 Minuten  |
December 2017
Craig Calfee
Cyclist Middle East

Craig Calfee

From bamboo e-bikes to full suspension racers, frame building pioneer Craig Calfee talks carbon fibre, Greg LeMond and the future of bikes as we know it

time-read
5 Minuten  |
December 2017
Track In The USSR
Cyclist Middle East

Track In The USSR

Not only did Don Walker found the North American Handmade Bicycle Show, he also shows some pretty mean bicycles himself

time-read
4 Minuten  |
December 2017
Rotor Uno Hydraulic Road Groupset
Cyclist Middle East

Rotor Uno Hydraulic Road Groupset

£2,400, saddleback.co.uk

time-read
1 min  |
December 2017
Frank Schleck
Cyclist Middle East

Frank Schleck

The ex-pro and former yellow jersey wearer tells Cyclist about the unique pleasures and pains of riding at the Tour de France 

time-read
5 Minuten  |
October 2017
The Worlds Are Your Oyster
Cyclist Middle East

The Worlds Are Your Oyster

Designing a course so a local rider wins the rainbow jersey? Felix Lowe asks just what are the Worlds coming to…

time-read
3 Minuten  |
October 2017
Pick 'N' Mix
Cyclist Middle East

Pick 'N' Mix

If we had to pick five…

time-read
2 Minuten  |
October 2017
Q&A : Thomas Voeckler
Cyclist Middle East

Q&A : Thomas Voeckler

The French fans’ favourite on his last ever appearance in the Tour de France, his old Miguel Indurain poster and the glorious art of the attack.

time-read
5 Minuten  |
June 2017
In Praise Of... Memorials
Cyclist Middle East

In Praise Of... Memorials

Plaques, statues and shrines to cycling’s fallen heroes are scattered all over the mountain roads of Europe, turning any ride into a pilgrimage.

time-read
4 Minuten  |
June 2017