I don't believe in Peter Pan, Frankenstein or Superman

One thing which guarantees that travel never gets boring is that the people you meet will always be at least slightly 'different' to anyone that you ever met before. Different means not only varied but sometimes quite odd and just occasionally, a tad spooky. Once on a train from Vienna to Paris, a chap briefly introduced himself before enthusing passionately about how lucky the British were to have Mrs Thatcher as their Prime Minister. Mrs T was admittedly at the zenith of her career so many subscribed to his point of view, although perhaps less of them feel the same now. When I asked what it was specifically about her that he admired so much, he said it was for her great leadership skills and the endless time she devoted to help less able governments solve their problems on other planets.

[Yes I'll pause here just so you can read that again.
My neurons also had trouble processing these signals]

If I hadn't been paying full attention up to this point, then I certainly did from that moment onward. Thinking that something was slightly amiss, I casually hugged my personal possessions a little closer before asking the chap to clarify a little further. He took this as an open invitation to describe the great difficulties that people have on other worlds, trying to live peacefully but in a constant state of conflict, under weak governments that were unable to help their citizens due to corrupt politicians and the threat of strong militaries. He observed sagely how problems were much the same everywhere that you look in the universe. How great it was therefore, that Mrs T could spare the time from her own busy schedule to consult with our galactic neighbours, to manage their crises and to guide them through their problems. While his belief in his idol suggested that fragments of this chap had already slipped into another dimension, in most respects his feet remained firmly based in our reality. For example he was fully aware that any galactic neighbours would be so far away that Mrs T couldn't actually go to these worlds to help in person; the best she could do was to advise long distance. In other words he may have blown one cylinder but he was getting along quite well firing on the other five.

One way in which people certainly differ is the way that they relate to sport. Some cheer from a safe distance, others get sweaty together in a team while a few indulge alone for a little reflection or self testing. Similarly, while some only dabble occasionally, others have regular fixtures while a few show a near religious devotion. In Korea cycling and hiking are far and away the preferred opiates of the masses and virtually everyone is hooked.

Despite its rugged, mountainous terrain, South Korea already benefits from almost 2,000 km of dedicated cycle lanes across the length and breadth of the country. Those along Seoul's River Han are extremely popular with people of all ages. 

http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=1898731

South Korea: paradise for cyclists  

The phenomenal popularity of the sport is undoubtedly due to the supporting infrastructure which goes well beyond a simple cycle path and an occasional bench.  At regular intervals there are 7-Elevens, coffee shops, bike shops, hire and repair stations, cleaned and maintained washrooms, outdoor gyms, courts for playing tennis, badminton and basketball. Everything is set up at regular intervals along the routes so that no matter what happens, you're never more than 10 minutes away from a helpful pit-stop, car park, bus stop or train station.  There are even elevators to cycle over-bridges and stairs with ramps to link the cycle routes together over the main auto routes.

Need to cross the highway ?
Use the cycle elevator or the stairs with cycle gutter rail

A quick glimpse at the global bicycle market reveals the following;

• In 1950 global automobile and bicycle production were approximately equal at 10 million units per year.
  By 2000 global automobile production increased to 40 million while global bicycle production increased to 100 million
  
• Global bicycle production in 2016 is estimated at 133 million units
• Globally China is the largest producer of and market for bicycles, producing 57% of the world's bicycles.
  In Europe Germany is the largest market for bicycles.
  http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/bicycle-market.asp
• cycling and cycle accessories now account for one eighth of money we spend on sports.  It is now the largest single category in the worldwide sports market
  http://www.bike-eu.com/sales-trends/nieuws/2015/12/2014-global-cycling-market-valued-at-e-35-7-billion-10125262
• In a list of 10 European countries, the UK ranks 10th for the number of km cycled per person per day but 3rd for the number of people killed per 100km cycled
  http://www.ibike.org/library/statistics-data.htm

"You say Rolls I say Royce

You say God give me a choice

You say Lord I say Christ

I don't believe in Peter Pan, Frankenstein or Superman

All I wanna do is Bicycle..."

The video to Queen's 1978 single Bicycle Race featured 65 naked models.
Subsequently the video was either censored or banned outright in many countries worldwide.
As much fun as this must have been, it still didn't do for cycling what South Korea has done today.

Topless cyclists join Freddie on stage at Madison Square Gardens in Nov 1978.
Worldwide it did wonders for the sale of Queen albums, leather pants and thongs but precious little for bicycles

Perhaps uniquely in Korea there is no concept for 'entry level'; if you're into something, it's all-consuming.  Whether cycling alone, in pairs, in families or in teams, the cycling equipment itself is nothing short of top notch. It's not unlikely that the bike wheels alone set the owner back US$4,000 and the rest of the bike maybe 3 to 5 times as much. The whole thing together may weigh little more than 6kg and is so sleek that it is near-invisible when viewed from in front or behind. 

Equally there is no entry level for the rider's outfit, kit and accessories. No self respecting cyclist wears tennis shoes, basketball shorts, a football shirt, a skating helmet, or driving gloves. Cycling demands only the latest high-living, ever-giving, cool-fizzing, cycle-whizzing sportswear; the costs of which will certainly make your eyes water unless, of course, you're wearing your dedicated cycling sun shades ;)

All or nothing: if you're going to do something, do it right

The last generation could spend a year's salary on a new car. This generation can spend the same on a new bicycle.