In today's world cycling has claimed its spot in becoming a fitness sport. As such we only get to see fancy expensive high-tech bicycles in shops.
I learnt how to cycle when I was 10 years old.
Although, in 1980's, cycle was a an absolute necessity to commute and the only suitable, sought after and economical mode of transport, but still was considered a middle class luxury! Most of us did not even own a bicycle then.
We used to hire bicycles from Cycle Marts which used to be around in the street corners after we return from school or over the weekends on hourly basis. The owner had bicycles of different sizes to suit the needs of various cycle learning & cycling aspirants who wanted to learn or master the cycling skills. I still remember that he used to write our names in a long book with our address with the time the bicycle was rented. It cost us 1 rupee for an hour and 50 paise for half an hour.
As we rented these bicycles & made our way through zig zagging on the main roads or cross roads, we could only see very few Scooters zipping by, and occasionally, an Autorickshaw or Public transport bus or an Ambassador or Fiat Car would appear on the roads.
Thus in mid 80's, I used to cycle about 20 Kilometres every day to the college, breathing fresh air and that was a healthy exercise. The cycles had proper sturdy mud guards, chain guards and a metal seat in the back for the pillion. A cycle was considered as a long term investment at that time and was well oiled & maintained always.
We cycled in our normal clothes and we had no such thing called "biking wear"!!!