On Choppers, Chippers, Racers and Grifters
People have been cycling since the early nineteenth century but for those of us who are of a certain vintage the golden age of the bicycle was undoubtedly the 1970s. This was the decade when, for a wonderful few years, the bike was not merely a functional mode of transport but a fashion statement also. Saddles with backrests and cow-horn handlebars set us apart from all the generations that had gone before us and blessed us with an opportunity to strike a pose. Flares flapping in the wind and platform heels locked awkwardly upon the pedals, we were the original, authentic 15-mph kings of the highway. The more conspicuously sensible types in our midst eschewed the Raleigh Chopper for the racing bike. Multiple gears, everything in the right place and designed for speed , the “racer” was as practical as the Chopper was audacious. Those who opted for it were oft given to demonstrate its superiority in a test of speed to disinterested Chopper devotees at every opportunity. We ju...