Twenty years ago road cycling was the exclusive domain of a dedicated group of enthusiasts. Most of these riders rode for recreation or to train for road racing. Since neither of those activities was particularly popular at the time, few cyclists could be seen on the roads.
Rising gas prices along with the rising cost of car ownership, environmentalism, obesity and traffic congestion gave rise to a new breed of bicycle rider: the commuter. The term commuter originally described someone who rode a bike to work, although the term could be loosely attributed to those who rode from home to college campuses or other places that were part of their daily routine.
The general idea was that the bicycle had become a form of transportation, rather than a hobby or sport. Still, only a select group of people participated in the early days of commuting. Continue reading ….
