It was the summer of 1897 when Oriani set on a journey from Casola Valsenio “with no other reason than to travel”. His journey has been described in a diary printed in 1902.
“The pleasure of riding a bicycle equals that of freedom, and maybe it’s even better! ”
These words hold as much power as when he first wrote them, portraying the reason why we people of Ravenna love cycling.
“Going anywhere, anytime, stopping at the first flight of fancy, without being worried for any horse, or for staff like you would on the train. ”
[…]
“we are the bicycle, we win over space and time. We are alone without even coming into contact with the soil, which our wheels barely touch, almost prey to the wind against which we fight like a bird. ”
And although nowadays a bicycle does not pique the same interest it did during Oriani’s times, back when it was still an unknown vehicle, when
“Kids admire you, women look at you”, let us still get inspired, let us give the bicycle its rightful value, let us use it to the utmost, let us leave our car at home, let us BE FREE AND BECOME POETS!