Bike Shorts: The New Comfort

"Get a bicycle. You will not regret it-if you live." Mark Twain

Bicycling has had many champions in its long history, but few have been as hard working as Thomas Stevens. In 1884 he acquired a Pope "Columbia Standard" and got the fascinating idea to circle the earth on it. Looking at this "penny-farthing" type vehicle in which the front wheel had a diameter of roughly five feet and the rear wheel one, an adventure spanning the globe is not the first thing modern cyclists might decide on, but nevertheless, off went Stevens.

He started his journey in Oakland, California in the spring of 1884 carrying his indispensable possessions-socks, a change of clothes, a tent/rain slicker, along with a Smith and Wesson-in a handlebar bag. In 103 days (only eighty-three and a half were spent actually biking) he had reached Boston, having traveled 3,700 miles over rough paths. The next spring, he continued his journey after reaching England on a steamer. He journeyed across Britain, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, continuing east. By the end , he had wound up in Iran and was ready to rest for the winter.

The spring of 1886 began with a new set of challenges. He was forbidden entry into Siberia and booted from Afghanistan, but after that things smoothed out for Stevens. Between steamers and his bicycle, he traveled through India, China, and Japan, ending his amazing journey at Yokohama on December 17, 1886. He figured that he had biked 13,5000. His fascinating travels are immortalized in his 1,000 page two-volume book called Around the World on a Bicycle.

Not a lot of people would be willing to try such a journey in this day and age, but if they did, their bag would probably be a lot lighter! What are crucial pieces of clothing to today's cyclists were not even dreamed of by the people of his age, but how much more fun they make riding. Modern cycling wear, such as bicycle shorts and shirts, are breathable. Just think how much more comfortable Mr. Stevens would have been on his extensive trip if he had had the advantages of lycra!

Article Source: http://www.share.onlypunjab.com

If you're in the market for a pair of outstanding bicycle shorts, be sure you buy from a reputable bicycling site.

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