Geograph - photograph every grid square

Brave man!

The development of the bicycle, over a period of about 120 years, can be seen in this picture at South Croydon.

The brave man riding the high 'ordinary' bicycle, would have been the 'king of the road' during the 1870s and early 1880s. Cycling was the preserve of the wealthy, who formed into clubs which ventured out into the countryside on (generally) un-metalled roads. Just a few years later, these same men were the pioneer motorists, driving cars of the type seen in the annual London-Brighton Veteran Car Run.

Seen on the 2010 VCR, this man has been a regular for a number of years. I've always wondered how much walking he has to do, on the way to Brighton.