Would you want to have fun and relieve stress while improving your health? Would you like to go green and improve your community’s health while you commute to places? If you answered yes to any of these two questions than you should give a bike a try. Bicycling  is a form of transportation, its a sport, and its recreational. Cyclists are people who ride unicycles, tricycles and quadracycles. Bicycles were introduced in 1817 by Karl Daris. This invention was known as “Draisine”, “running machine” and “hobby horse”.

Cycling is a very efficient mode of transportation worldwide. There are over one billion bicycles in use today. There are many benefits to cycling  both socially and personally. Bicycling is a good form of physical exercise. You can ride on any terrain and even allowed to ride on roads. Cycling also reduces the burning of fossil fuels, and reduces traffic congestion. There is way less damage to the roads. There’s way less financial cost to the rider and to the community.

Although many bicyclists ride on the road for transportation many ride purely for recreation. Mountain biking  began in the 1970s, originally as a downhill sport, practiced on regular cruiser bikes on Mount Tamalpais, outside of San Francisco. It takes place on dirt trails. Slopestyle is a form of downhill, which riders do tricks such as tail whips, 360s, back flips and front flips. There is also cross country, all mountain, trail, free ride, and newly popular enduro. However, since the middle of the 20th century, cycling has become much less popular than it used to be in the US, while in Continental Europe it continues to be a major sport, particularly in the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Italy and Spain. The most famous of all bicycle races is the Tour de France.

The bicycle is not really made for military use but has been used as transportation for soldiers and supplies in the field. The Bicycle has replaced horses on the field. In World War I, France, Germany, Australia and New Zealand used bicycles to transport troops. In the invasion of China in 1937, Japan deployed 50,000 bicycle troops. Japan also used similar tactics in the march of Malaya in WWII. Germany also used bicycles in World War II, while the British deployed airborne “Cycle-commandos” with bikes that could fold. In Vietnam, communist forces used bicycles as cargo carriers along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The last country known to maintain bicycle troops was Switzerland, which banded its last unit in 2003.

Why you should pick up biking. It’s an inexpensive form of transportation because you don’t get taxed, no fuel is needed , no insurance, no tolls, no parking fees. A bike lasts for many years, if not decades. It really beats sitting in traffic. It’s an activity you can do with the entire family or friends. Good sport to meet and bond with people. It relieves a lot of stress.  It’s good for the environment by not polluting the air . It’s a great way to cruse around and see new things. It’s a good exercise and habit to learn. It helps lower the the risk of heart disease, stroke, and cancer.

Personally I’ve biked since I was 13. I’ve bought, broken, lost and customized up many bikes before. The bike I have now is a street bike. It has thin tires very tall and its light. Its original color was orange, but I matte finished it black. I added neon green lights under the bike frame and green neon lights on the rims. It has a LED rear and front lights. As you ride into the trails and into nature, your your problems start to fade. It feels like a haze when you look at the trees all around you. You hear the streams and animals ride along your side. You start to fill up with euphoria and you just don’t want to turn back. Biking is my favorite hobby, its  easy to do, and you can keep it up for a lifetime. Have Fun!