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crop reached a climax, the bicycle was seen as a viable alternative to driving, a price that was low enough for the common man to purchase. It was during this exciting time that the League of American Wheelmen, now known as The League of American Bicyclists sought out to promote a better lane, in that another seed had been planted, this one the automobile.

With this increased popularity and just after World War 1 the first Kid's Bike came about, today called classics, or chops, in attempt to revitalize a failing industry. These are the bikes today often called cruisers, at the beginning these specific bicycles were a culmination of popular elements to seem appeasing to a child. Elements such as automobile and motorcycle aspects without the engine. These were like the hot rods, and often were modified considerably and yet the kids of the day, could do amazing things on them. Even at 65lbs loaded with extras to the max they rode them like BMX bikes. Throughout the 50's they were the de facto standard, come the 60's though these machines started being redesigned to leaner and meaner versions of the classics of the time.

Which brings us to now, this moment the present. In a failing economy, with gas so high, that these same bikes are coming out once again just to save even a bit, to make the wallet just a bit heavier. The bikes today, termed Mountain Bikes, Hybrids, Road, Touring. With their suspension, the carbon forks, the multiple geared machines. Similar but far improved over the bike of yesteryear. The bikes today, will become history and one day another person will write an article on this same subject. Though it will be in another time, another place. The bikes today, the infrastructure of now and yet some still remember those great bikes of yesterday. I hope you gained something from this article, I know I most certainly did. It is amazing to explore the early beginnings of bicycle history to the current mutations, and the ones to come. What is your view, your understanding of bicycle history? What do you do today, to not forget yesterday?

Learn more about this author, Ray Marr.
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