It defintely shored up the gene pool in countries like Britain because it meant that people could go further than they ever had beforein order to find a partner for life and to mate. And so what started as a really faddish leisure pursuit, within a decade of 1885, the bicyle became the most popular form of transport on the planet, and it has been ever since.
What does shore up mean, Sophie?
It means support. And gene pool here refers to the collection of genes in a particular population. So, when people traveled further to marry and have children, they were making the gene pool bigger and healthier.
And Robert Penn uses the word 'faddish' he says, cycling started as a faddish thing. A fad- or faddish activity- means an enthusiasm for something that doesn't last very long.
But your enthusiasm for cycling is not a fad.
No, it isn't. Do you think lycra wearing is a fad and we'll all go back to wearing pantaloons in the future, Sophie? No? Not a good look? OK, maybe it's time for the answer to today's quiz question.
I asked: Who invented the first cycle tyre in 1888?
What it...a) John Boyd Dunlop b) Charles Goodyear or c) Harvey Samuel Firestone?
And I said John Boyd Dunlop. Tell me I'm right!
You are... right! Well done, Neil. Scottish inventor and veterinary surgeon John Boyd Dunlop developed the pneumatic rubber tyre. Although it was invented as an improvement on the bicycle, the pneumatic tyre arrived on the scene just in time to contribute to the success of the car.
-A pneumatic tyre is a type of tire that uses compressed air inside a flexible, airtight chamber to support a load and provide cushioning.
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