'Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of riding a bike'.  JFK

John F Kennedy made a number of great speeches in his life, but these simple words really resonated with me.  The bicycle, whether it is a $10,000 carbon fibre road bike or a hand-me-down kids' bike has the ability to provide the user with a very simple but immensely rewarding experience.  As children, most or us were fortunate to learn to ride a bike and from that point on, freedom was ours.   No more waiting for your parents to drive you to your friend's house.  Going to the store for a loaf of bread was now an adventure, not a chore.  The world suddenly seemed to be much smaller, and similarly we too were suddenly bigger and ready to take on anything.