Nostalgic bicycle riding of bygone days…..

Who was the man to enjoy, the first ever free, thrilling and adventurous ride of bicycle in the man kind history? Answer to the question is not as enigmatic; simple answer is, the person who invented the bicycle rode it first time. But the invention of the bicycle, as we find it today, was not as such in the beginning. In fact, it took long to take the shape of this cozy, paddled, chain equipped bicycle of the today. But prior to anything, we will have to find out the inventor of its most important component i. e. the wheel. Amazingly the story of invention of bicycle begins from the eighteenth century onward only. Whilst, the existence of wheel (in its round shape), is dated back to 4000 B. C.

                                               Origin of wheel

 The exact place of origin of wheel is credited to Mesopotamia (present place between Iraq and Kuwait.)  The “potter wheel”, is taken as the first ever wheel of the world. The credit for the invention of the wheel to some specific individual is impossible to grant. Since, it was invented, at the period of time, when perhaps the ability of reading and writing was not developed with in that civilization.  Hence, no any such record of the inventor is available. So the main component of the bicycle was already in existence for last four thousand years. And if you remove this wheel component from the bicycle, there is left a heap of trash only.

                                                   Bone rattler

As it happens with every invention, it goes through systematic improvements step by step. This process, takes long to become a perfect thing, same happened with bicycle. At the beginning, front wheel, was larger than back wheel. Then, came a time when back wheel was larger in size than front wheel. Later on, “high bicycle” were also introduced. With the lapse of time, a time came when bicycle appeared with its present cozy shape.  This was equipped with brakes, paddle,chain and crank, hub etc.

It helped in producing, more kinetic energy, with the help of lesser muscular power(paddling.) Just wait a jiffy! In the beginning wheels were either wooden or metallic, that, consumed a good deal of bodily energy in paddling. It was so tiresome to ride the bicycle, bicycle was given the name of “bone rattler.” But, with the invention of Vulcanized rubber by Charles Goodyear, that helped manufacturing of hard tyre. Along with, introduction of pneumatic tyres helped the bicycle reach at the present form.

                                             Popularity of bicycle

 The bicycle has been popular whole through the World . Likewise in Asia, it too occupied and played a significant role. In Japan, bicycle, has been an important medium of transport and exercise and still is in vogue. Whilst in China, in the decades of sixty to eighty of last century, the bicycle occupied a significant place in every Chinese household. Specifically, in urban China. During that period of time, if, a Chinese family was found in possession of three things i. e. sewing machine, bicycle and watch; it was considered a well off one.

The most popular brand of bicycle as a household name in China happened to be “pigeon fly.” This brand in China, had the advance booking of bicycles, with a waiting period of two to three years for delivery. And a “pigeon fly” brand bicycle cost equal to four months salary of a middle class working China man, at that time.

                                Bicycle in Indian subcontinent

 In India , bicycle too occupied, a place of specific and costly item for a long period. Bicycle got here introduced by Britishers (them being rulers.) And, after Independence, from 1947 onward up to the decade of eighty of twentieth century, it remained as a prominent, multipurpose tool, to be instrumental in transport or carrier of goods. It was taken as a valuable chattel. The trend to gift a bicycle, as a dowry item in a marriage, to the bridegroom, from the side of bride was in vogue.

Some prominent brands of that time were Hercules, Atlas, A-one and Hero etc. Hero company, later on in collaboration with Japan’s Honda introduced “Hero Honda” motorcycle and since then is a prominent brand in that field. Still it manufactures bicycles no doubt. With the introduction of motor cycle and scooter, gradually bicycle lost its charm. As on today, it is means of transport of weaker section of society or of hobby riders. Hobby riding bicycles are of high cost and geared one, and of the class of mountain bicycle.

                                                     Pragmatic benefit

An another  pragmatic value of bicycle riding, we find, when we start learning motor bike or four wheeler driving. It is supposed, by the trainer that as a bicycler we are properly acquainted with the rules and bye laws of the road in the civic sense, and this is almost true . We all in utmost, to our early teen age fostered a desire to learn the bicycling. And with a given efforts, in that age we worked hard to learn that.

That experience, can not be ignored or forgotten. Not only this, it can’t be forgotten the experience, for the first time when we rode freely and independently. The feelings of pleasure, saturated with spontaneity of a flying bird, generated in us a “self complacence” and “self sufficiency.” That first ever unique pleasure we never experienced again in the life, despite ourselves becoming the pilot of an airplane. Now, you may walk down the memory lane and enjoy the reminiscences. Penned by– Vinay Pharasi…..