The Scorcher
In the 1890's in the United States, before automobiles took over our roads, changes in the design of the bicycle led to nothing short of a revolution. Young, modern, and adventurous riders of this now accessible mode of transport became referred to as Scorchers. The term became synonymous with speed, rebelliousness, and strength in a time of rapid change and increasing industrialization. Design changes also allowed women to ride bicycles comfortably in clothing of the period, making them a central feature of the feminist movement in the United States. To quote Susan B. Anthony:
[The bicycle] has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world. It gives a woman a feeling of freedom and self-reliance. The moment she takes her seat she knows she can't get into harm unless she gets off her bicycle, and away she goes, the picture of free, untrammeled womanhood.
The bicycle became a tool of activism and represented freedom of a different kind. A century later, in a world filled with car-related environmental and social problems, the bicycle can be a life-affirming vehicle of change, not just for Western feminists and rebellious urbanites, but for the poor, the disenfranchised, and the disconnected. It is a bold statement against oil consumption, traffic, and pollution and a means by which individuals can be empowered and community strengthened. It is this spirit and these values that underpinned our decision to reclaim the Scorcher name.