From a January 19, 1896, N.Y. Times article regarding a jam-packed "Big Cycle Show" at Madison Square Garden:
Young men used to save up their money to buy a horse or a watch. Now, they save to buy a bicycle, and there are thousands who are cutting off unnecessary expenses in the way of clothing, cigars, and amusements and luxuries, so as to possess a wheel. Once they buy a wheel and become enthusiasts, they want the latest model, and so they become regular customers year after year.
If you went to a bicycle industry convention today, you'd see different equipment than that showcased 114 years ago. But the phenomenon you'd see would be largely the same: enthusiasts willing to shell out hundreds (or thousands!) of dollars for a sleeker, lighter, "faster" velocipede. I can relate.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
