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New Zealand Graphic, Volume XX, Issue XIX, 7 May 1898, Page 588

Pioneers in bicycling were subject to an annoyance which has died a natural death through the universal adoption of the wheel. The first few riders, who were sprinkled around upon country roads, seemed to feel an enthusiastic and active sympathy with all other riders, and this prompted them to accost any other traveller along the way. The mere fact of another man or woman lieing mounted was by some regarded as sufficient reason for mutual exchange of greetings as a preface to further conversation if desired. To women especially this easy freedom of manners along the road was a source of annoyance. No sensible woman objects to obliteration of drawing-room conventionalities under certain sporting conditions, but if a woman break through the wall of custom which protects her, although it sometimes imprisons, never knows whether a stranger’s advances are made in the common interest of sport or whether they are unwarrantable familiarities. It is almost impossible to even the most experienced woman to distinguish between the stranger whose interest in her is entirely impersonal and the one whose sole object is a low satisfying of his own vanity. As a matter of fact there is no more reason why bicyclers should accost one another along the road than for persons driving in carriages or walking along the streets to do the same.