Riding Bicycles on Shabbat - a note

In the past, when I have discussed why Ashkenazim opposed riding bicycles on Shabbat more than Middle-Eastern authorities did - I focused on the work uses of the bicycle in Europe, even between towns.  These situations obviously involved periodic fixing of flats (and fixing of the chain once that came into use).  Thus, it is not surprising that it was forbidden as the Tannaim had forbidden horse riding and that it was forbidden in language that points out how even casual riding can turn into work.

 However, I overlooked that the other grounds of opposition: bicycle riding in Europe became a group sport - which takes us back to the Ashkenazic debate over playing soccer/rugby/football on Shabbat.  It also involved inter-gender socializing, and even allowed for socializing further away from one's neighborhood of residence.  Even strangers could use their shared interest in bicycling as an opening point of conversation with the opposite gender - and all the more so a man and a woman who were strangers could meet by his offering to help fix her bicycle chain or flat.  These issues both can be found in the Halakhic language and were not as significant in Middle Eastern countries in which only men bicycled.

For some sources on Western consternation in response to bicycling (especially on the day of rest), see:

David Herlihy, Bicycle: The History. pp 266-272