Women owe a special debt to the bicycle.... this wonderful, human-extending machine played a large part in the emancipation of Western women.
Here's a poem from circa 1899:
Quoted post said:
Where once I heard her voice in song I hear it now insist, That "Holding tight to handlebars will strain the stoutest wrist." Where once she played a light guitar she now proclaims in ire That only "Dingbat tires are good" and sneers at single tires. Where once she spoke in charming ways of her way to build a cake She orates on the graceful ease she coasts without a brake. Of spokes and bloomers, sprockets, chains, of pedals and the like My better half will talk for hours since she has bought a bike.
