ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of key concepts covered in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book begins at a symposium of social scientific research into cycling, hosted by the Centre for Mobilities Research at Lancaster University in June 2004, an event that has led to the establishment of a research network, Cycling and Society Research Group and an ongoing series of symposia. Although of course different readers will take different things from the book, and approach it in their own ways, we want to encourage rather than discourage unusual juxtapositions. Justin Spinney provides an innovative and fascinating analysis of urban cycling, in which he explores the embodied experiences of cyclists as they negotiate the streets of London. It provides a fascinating and unprecedented glimpse into women's cycle racing at the end of the nineteenth century. Returning to consideration of Fincham's, the deviant cyclist in Mackintosh and Norcliffe's account of cycling a century ago is the irresponsible, speeding 'scorcher'.
