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There was a time when bicycles were ubiquitous as the most important means of transportation for ordinary people. It can be seen everywhere in the streets and alleys of the city, some carrying slow pedestrians, and some hanging heavy goods shuttling.

However, with the development of the times, automobiles and public transportation have gradually replaced the dominance of bicycles, and this seemingly ordinary two-wheeled means of transportation seems to have been forgotten by the world.

However, few people know that this means of transportation, which has been marginalized by modern society, has gone through a bumpy and tortuous development process.

China's development

Today, China has become a world-recognized bicycle power, with a huge number of about 400 million bicycles. With the rise of electric bicycles and the improvement of convenience, this new means of transportation has gradually occupied a place in people's travel.

Despite the growing trend towards electrification, there are still more than 100 million traditional hand-built bicycles. This figure shows that whether it is a blue-collar worker or a white-collar office worker, bicycles are still an important tool for them to solve the "last mile" travel, and are active on the world stage, showing their own unique vitality.

From manpower to electricity, the bicycle is radiating new vitality with a new attitude, as if it has reopened its new generation. This kind of vitality makes people look forward to the role of bicycles in the future of travel.

The origin of the bicycle

However, before we can trace the footprint of the development of the bicycle, we must first understand its origins. As a new means of transportation, the advent of the bicycle has undoubtedly brought earth-shaking changes to people's lives.

The bicycle originated in the late 18th century as an invention of a Frenchman, Sifrac. However, at that time, the bicycle had not yet been mass-produced and used.

It wasn't until the 19th century that it was truly introduced to the global public.

The bike of that time was significantly different from the modern two-wheeled model, which consisted of two huge wheels and two smaller wheels. In the eyes of contemporary people, it is simply a strange prop in the circus, which makes people laugh.

But it was this peculiar shape that marked the birth of the bicycle as a new means of transportation.

The road to development

Although the bicycle initially came across as an oddity, it was quickly replaced by a modern design that gradually took root in China. In 1897, China's first bicycle store, Tongchang Bicycle Dealership, opened in Shenyang, bringing a new travel experience to the local people.

There was an interesting little episode that happened at that time. Pu Yi, the Qing Dynasty emperor who was relegated to Shenyang at that time, was so happy that he was like a child after receiving a bicycle in the palace, and often rode it around to play, which shows that the bicycle was indeed a novelty at that time.

However, for a long time, the products sold in the Chinese bicycle market were imported from abroad, and local manufacturers did not have their own bicycle brands.

It wasn't until 1940 that this situation finally took a turn for the better, when the Shanghai Bicycle Factory in Shanghai was officially established, and China had its own bicycle manufacturing enterprise.

Since then, domestic bicycle brands have begun to emerge in China. It is worth mentioning that the "flying pigeon" bicycle produced in 1950 was recognized as the first brand that was 100% independently developed and produced by the Chinese people, which made the people at that time excited and added a lot of national pride.

But there is no doubt that among all domestic brands, the most far-reaching and representative is the "Phoenix brand". In 1959, the Phoenix brand bicycle was officially launched, and its exquisite and moving phoenix pattern trademark design was once popular all over the country and attracted the attention of countless people.

People's yearning for a Phoenix brand bicycle has undoubtedly promoted the wave of the rise of domestic products.

The origin of the bicycle

So, why did the designer choose the phoenix as the trademark pattern of this bicycle? According to the original vision of designer Zhou Bairen, the phoenix has an important symbolic meaning in Chinese culture, which not only means auspiciousness, happiness and health, but also represents the dynamic beauty of lightness and speed.

These qualities coincide with the essential attributes of the bike. A phoenix soaring in the blue sky with its wings outstretched, giving people a visual impact of flying freely and vigorously.

Therefore, the phoenix as the symbol of the bicycle is undoubtedly the most appropriate choice.

After careful planning and extensive solicitation, the birth of the Phoenix brand undoubtedly inspired the Chinese people at that time. Owning a Phoenix bicycle seems to be not only a kind of material wealth, but also a spiritual symbol and pursuit.

It became a sustenance of the pride of the entire nation.

Since then, the "Phoenix brand" has taken root in the hearts of the Chinese people with its beautiful appearance and outstanding quality, and has become a well-deserved light of domestic products.

The status of the bike

To really understand the weight of bicycles in that era, we have to look at a set of astonishing data: between 1979 and 1983, the price of a steamed bun weighing one tael in Changchun City was only a quarter of a cent; And the cost of the bus ride is only five cents.

It can be seen how low prices were at that time, and one yuan could buy six catties of salt and seven catties of rice.

In such an environment of scarce living materials and low prices, the price of a Phoenix brand bicycle is 150 yuan, and the highest-end model is only 180 yuan.

It was not easy for the average working class at the time to scrape together the money to buy a bicycle.

In Shanghai, for example, an average worker's monthly salary was only 30 yuan, and if he wanted to buy a 150 yuan Phoenix brand, he had to save up for five months.

It can be seen that in the 80s of the last century, owning a bicycle meant what a symbol of wealth and status.

Therefore, in that romantic and simple era, with the important weight of the bicycle, it became a "free force" that could not be underestimated in the marriage market at that time.

A man who owns a bicycle will undoubtedly add a lot of points to the hearts of many women. For the woman's family, a man who can drive a bicycle is naturally more attractive and attractive.

It can be said that for young people at that time, owning a bicycle was simply the most popular thing. They aspire to be able to ride a bicycle, roam freely in the streets and alleys, and release their inner youthful vitality.

This ardent desire stems not only from the pursuit of material things, but also from the social status and status symbolism that bicycles carry.

Because of this, once the bicycle is accidentally lost, it will undoubtedly bring unbearable property damage to the owner. Based on this consideration, many people will immediately go to the local police station after buying a bicycle to register in detail and obtain a license plate to prevent accidents.

In the event of a bicycle theft, they will immediately call the police for help, and the police will take such cases very seriously and conduct thorough investigations.

However, despite the desire to own a bicycle, in the planned economy of the time, bicycles were not something that could be bought just by looking at them. All supplies must be purchased with a ticket, and if you don't have a bike ticket in hand, you won't be able to own a bike of your own.

There are only two ways to get a bicycle ticket: one is to wait patiently in line, hoping that one day it will finally be your turn; The other way is to rely on the network of family and friends, get tickets from others, and then prepare for the purchase of a car in advance.

Because it's so tough, owning a bike is so hard. Therefore, at that time, the value of a Phoenix bicycle was not only a simple accumulation of material wealth, but also rose to the height of a social status and identity symbol.

If you look closely at the TV dramas or movies of that era, you will see that whenever someone comes out on a bicycle, it is often the center of the camera.

Wartime role

In addition to playing an important role in civil transportation in peacetime, bicycles also played an important role in wartime. In the smoke of the two world wars, many countries participating in the war have formed bicycle armies.

The bike's fast and agile maneuverability makes it an ideal piece of military equipment for reconnaissance patrols or raid strategies. Relying on its own advantages, the bicycle army has scattered countless tenacious figures on the battlefield.

Even in China, Shanghai, where the war was most severe, was once a bicycle paradise between 1937 and 1945. In addition to rickshaws, which were propelled by manpower, bicycles were arguably the most important means of transportation in Shanghai during the war, and were widely used in the fields of cargo transportation and passenger transportation.

Whether on the battlefield or at home, the role of bicycles in that special moment in history is anything but idle. From military to civilian, this two-wheeled transportation tool reflects its unique adaptability and significance, and has become an important help for people in the war era.

Walking through the rain of bullets and bullets, or shuttling on the ruins, the bicycle seems to have a deep fate with the bits and pieces of that era, and it is frozen into an exciting picture that will forever be recorded in the annals of history.