The bicycle, like history, links the past and future together. The bicycle had significant influence upon the development of the motorcar (Dunlop, Michelin had their first huge profits from cycling) and the airplane (Wilbur and Orville were bike mechanics.)

Today, the bicycle should be revered not only as the grandparent of such ingenious inventions, but also as the "Methuselah" of inventions: the bicycle is older, yet persists in very nearly it's original design. Sort of like the nail.

(Recumbents were early inventions, too!)