The beginning of roads starts as long ago as the Stone Age when track ways were made by primitive man to help him trade with other primitive people. However, it was the Romans who first built roads as we know them today. These roads were one of the greatest achievements of the Roman Empire; some of them remained in use for more than 1,000 years after the Empire finished. The first Roman road was the Via Appia and it was built in the year 312 B.C. This road stretched for over 6,018 kilometres across Western and Southern Europe. Roman roads were built mainly for the armies to conquer other countries, letting them travel quickly and safely, but, they were soon used for trade and for people to simply go from one city to another. Roman roads were built in a straight line as they did not have to worry about who owned the land or the effect of the roads on the environment. They would also have been able to see enemies approaching. These roads show how skilful the Romans were as engineers and planners as their techniques meant that the roads lasted for centuries. Today the Highways Agency is responsible for all the users of this network - the cyclist (ROADIES), the pedestrian, the horses and their riders, not just the cars and lorries! We provide safe routes for ROADIES,and pedestrians, including bridges that enable them and horse riders to cross our roads safely. We build tunnels under some of our roads for badgers, frogs, toads and other animals to get across the roads, and we also provide fences along our roads where they are needed to stop deer getting on to the road. So Dick where does it state in this short history MOUNTAINS, SINGLE TRACK, SIX DAYS OF FANTASTIC RIDING ALL OFF ROAD ACROSS SCOTLAND???
The Road Bike
What do the following have in common: a derailleur gear, an aluminum frame, the freewheel, disc wheels, anatomical saddles, clipless pedals, suspension, folding bikes? Answer: they were all ideas that originated in the late 1800s, by a ROADIE to ride the Roads!! Road bicycle racing is a bicycle racing sport held on roads, using racing bicycles. The term "road racing" is usually applied to events where competing riders start simultaneously (unless riding a handicap event) with the winner being the first to the line at the end of the course (individual and team time trials are another form of cycle racing on ROADS). Road racing is popular all over the world, but especially in Europe. Road bicycle racing began as an organized sport in 1868.The first world championship was in 1893 and cycling has been part of the Olympic Games since the modern sequence started in Athens in 1896. ROADS ROADS ROADS….NO MOUNTAINS HERE!!!
The Mountian Bike
Mountain biking is a sport which consists of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using specially adapted mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain. This individual sport requires endurance, core strength and balance, bike handling skills and self-reliance. Mountain biking can be performed almost anywhere from a back yard to a gravel road, but the majority of mountain bikers ride off-road trails, whether country back roads, fire roads, or singletrack (narrow trails that wind through forests, mountains, deserts, or fields).
The Mudpackers have endurance, core strength and balance, bike handling skills and self-reliance. What are you going to be Dick….hahaha
