I won't disagree with your statement, but just to play semantics with this part I'd like to say that there is perhaps no other exercise that the human body was better designed for. Cycling exploits the most powerful muscles in the body in a way that's sustainable for hours, doesn't waste energy with the braking forces and damaging tears of eccentric loading, and has no violent jarring or impact problems.

An example: I ran 20 miles Thursday to help get into shape and because I'm stupid. I'm so sore I still can't climb the stairs right, but I rode a stationary bike at the gym last night and just finished a bike race where I had no undue discomfort or soreness affecting me.

The human body was made for the bike.