Bicycles, The Victorians and British Reproductive Habits

Pete Bentley

Whilst rushing around, late for work this morning I caught a few
moments of a programme on Radio 4 which seemed to be talking
about how the Victorians though bikes were good for fertility.

Or something.

There was certainly a bit about how a weekly magazine (Tit Bits?)
ran a weekly competition for people to guess how many babies
were born that week with the prize being... A bicycle.

This was said to be "early social engineering" (although I don't
really see how).

From Radio 4's web site:-
Pedalling to Freedom
Tue 14 Dec, 09:30 - 09:45 15 mins

1/5. Lawrence Pollard gets on his bike and discovers the part that
the bicycle played in women's liberation as he re-traces the route
of the novel, The Golf Lunatic and His Cycling Wife.

Did any one listen to this and can perhaps post a more reliable summary
than mine?

Pete.

Bob the Builder

Interesting - I did listen to it whilst driving. Maybe I should ride more
then since I have got to see the doctor and wank into a vial to check my
potency since me and my lass are having difficulty conceiving.
BTW I do about 100 miles a week - shoud I do 200??!!
Bob


"Pete Bentley" <pete@sorted.org> wrote in message
news:cpmh6p$mbc$1@news.mimir.com...
> Whilst rushing around, late for work this morning I caught a few
> moments of a programme on Radio 4 which seemed to be talking
> about how the Victorians though bikes were good for fertility.
>
> Or something.
>
> There was certainly a bit about how a weekly magazine (Tit Bits?)
> ran a weekly competition for people to guess how many babies
> were born that week with the prize being... A bicycle.
>
> This was said to be "early social engineering" (although I don't
> really see how).
>
> From Radio 4's web site:-
> Pedalling to Freedom
> Tue 14 Dec, 09:30 - 09:45 15 mins
>
> 1/5. Lawrence Pollard gets on his bike and discovers the part that
> the bicycle played in women's liberation as he re-traces the route
> of the novel, The Golf Lunatic and His Cycling Wife.
>
> Did any one listen to this and can perhaps post a more reliable summary
> than mine?
>
> Pete.

dkahn400

Bob the Builder wrote:
> Interesting - I did listen to it whilst driving. Maybe I should
> ride more then since I have got to see the doctor and wank into a
> vial to check my potency since me and my lass are having difficulty
> conceiving.

ITYM fertility. Your potency is something you and your lass can easily
check for yourselves at home. :-)
I hope everything works out for you.

--
Dave...

dkahn400

Bob the Builder wrote:
> Interesting - I did listen to it whilst driving. Maybe I should
> ride more then since I have got to see the doctor and wank into a
> vial to check my potency since me and my lass are having difficulty
> conceiving.

ITYM fertility. Your potency is something you and your lass can easily
check for yourselves at home. :-)
I hope everything works out for you.

--
Dave...