“I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike, I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride it where I like”. When Queen released the song ‘bicycle race’ way back in 1978, bicycle resources were much thinner on the ground than the present day.

From the invention of the walking machine in 1871 by Baron von Drais, the ‘walking machine’ as it was then called didn’t last long, and was only a fad.

But arguably it was the forerunner of what was called the Velocipede, or boneshaker as it was to become known widely as, equally uncomfortable as the ‘walking machine’. For manufacturing bicycle resources were about as rare as rocking horse pooh.

Both made of wood, both hideously uncomfortable on the butt and other very tender parts of the body, used by men (of course) of some standing as the machines were hand made from wood, with wooden wheels and metal tires.

But the forerunners of the modern bike were made necessity; necessity being the mother of invention.

The inventors of these woefully inadequate machines, with none of the bicycle resources of the present day, were trying to achieve something that all cyclists of today understand; a freedom of travel, able to cover far more distance than on foot, but effectively ‘door to door’ transport, without the cost of stabling horses, and all the peripherals one needs to ride a horse.

And in modern times, while not being the same as owning an automobile, owning and riding a bicycle gives one a freedom that can only be expressed and understood by those that actually ride or have ridden a bike.

And bicycle resources available for the modern cyclist are to be found everywhere, on line stores selling just about every size, shape and specification of bicycle, to towns and cities that are littered with purpose built cycle lanes and paths, and cycle ways that criss cross urban areas to aid cyclists in their journeys across towns, and thus, where possible, avoiding all the heavy traffic.

In some countries in Europe, there are tax breaks available for owners of bicycles and many companies offer financial incentives to get people cycling, rather than using a car, to get to work.

On the whole, the available bicycle resources for modern cyclists are many and varied. Use this page to follow the links to find out more information about where to buy the best cycles, how to maintain and repair, and also tips and features on how to enjoy the bicycle experience.