Comments on: Ebony’s Sad Bicycle Wedding

By: BluesCat

BluesCat — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 15:29:11 +0000

David -

LOL! Yeah! She should be HAPPY he’s not makin’ her do the DISHES while she’s back there!

By: David Washburn

David Washburn — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 06:43:58 +0000

What’s she complaining about, she’s not doing any if the work.

By: Jym

Jym — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 20:42:54 +0000

• Daisy had an answer song (several of them, actually) turning the guy down because he couldn’t afford a carriage. If she’s that shallow, he’s better off without her anyhow.

1892 was early on in that Golden Age of Bicycling; there were many bicycle weddings later on in that decade, some of them very lavish. The stigma can be and should be overcome. If anything it might actually be more difficult these days, since we’ve had generations of advertising to associate cars with status (and freedom).

Folks I grew up with have journeyed from their wedding receptions in classic (*cough*) cars held together with duct tape and primer, or pickup trucks. A lovely tandem bike would have been better, but oh well. None of that has had any bearing on their marital happiness.

By: bergerandfries

bergerandfries — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 16:06:48 +0000

After all, marriage isn’t just about money and cycling isn’t just for the poor.

LOVE this comment. However, cycling has allowed me to save money, which is my spouse’s hot-button issue. So while I agree with all comments here, the Outrage-of-the-Day here in DFW metroplex is all of the toll-roads. Sorry, but if you want to drive, you have to pay. Don’t want to pay? Don’t drive. Seems like an egalitarian taxation to me!

By: BluesCat

BluesCat — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 03:00:13 +0000

As much as I’d like to see the bicycle break free of the image as the Poor Man’s Transportation, I fear that will never happen.

The 1880′s and 1890′s were arguably the heyday of bicycling in America. The invention of the “safety bicycle” — two same-sized wheels on a diamond frame that even the ladies could ride — led to an explosion of millions of bicycles racing and being used for transportation. Bikes became so popular that groups like the League of American Wheelmen were formed to promote bicycling and the creation of paved roads (which were later appropriated by automobiles).

Even with all that popularity, we should remember that in 1892 a fellow called Harry Dacre wrote a tune called Daisy Bell, whose familiar refrain goes:

It won’t be a stylish marriage –
I can’t afford a carriage,
But you’d look sweet upon the seat
Of a bicycle built for two.

(Emphasis is mine)

By: Ted Johnson

Ted Johnson — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 18:59:49 +0000

Alex: What bride doesn’t get exactly the wedding she wants unless it can’t be afforded?

But, yes, I do need to read the article in order to fully judge it’s perspective.

It could be that she wanted a Pashley bike, and is disappointed to be on a Batavus. Yes, that’s definitely it.

By: Alex Fine

Alex Fine — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 14:46:24 +0000

I feel this may be reading into the illustration a bit too much. Especially without reading the article. You have to acknowledge that though you may love riding bikes, not all people do and maybe this is a bride that finds widely practiced aspects of a wedding important i.e. limos and nice flower arrangements etc. I wouldn’t mind riding off on a bike but I’m sure there are a large number of brides and grooms who would be disappointed in this kind of wedding. Not everyone is as cool as us : )

By: Cullen Carter

Cullen Carter — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 13:38:08 +0000

I think the bride is sad that her new husband didn’t even equip the bike with a skirt-guard.

By: Graham

Graham — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 11:28:50 +0000

If I hadn’t read the article, I wouldn’t have made the connection to Ebony’s readership at all. Here on the sunny coast of NC, having a bicycle-themed wedding or riding away from a wedding on a bike (even as a guest) would be seen as the ultimate shame and humiliation.

“Can’t you provide better than even that for your new wife?!”

If there is such a thing as a transportational bike culture, then it has a very long way to go here in the South before any bride has a happy face on when leaving her wedding on a bicycle.

Sad, but true.

By: David

David — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 02:44:57 +0000

As a married cyclist that happens to be african-american, i am disappointed with the sad face on the bride. After all, marriage isn’t just about money and cycling isn’t just for the poor.