By the early 1800s, bicycles were consistently being built of metal, with two wheels, and were being driven by one person. The sport of cycling, and more recently mountain biking, has gained in popularity. Many us it as an environmentally-friendly form of transportation. Cycling provides good exercise, fresh air, and a competitive challenge. It exercises most parts of the body including the legs, arms, hands and cardiovascular system.
Cycling is also an Olympic racing sport with track and cross-country events.
Mountain biking competitions continue to grow in popularity, combining speed with rugged terrain. Check for thinning tire treads, squeaky brakes, sticky cables or a bent frame. This means the helmet design has completed the Canadian Standards Association's durability testing. Many cyclists also want toe clips, to improve peddling efficiency. Calgary provides ideal cycling terrain, with over 200 kilometres of bike paths.