I suppose the difference between a man (PC correct person) and his bicycle is that man is live while his bicycle is dead (especially a Hetchinsor Mercian)or inanimate. Man or PC person, in healthy life, has the power of mobility and of balance, to which is added the attraction of moving swiftly. This can be fully fulfilled by the silent servant of man (person), known as the bicycle or tricycle, and in its purest form when riding fixed. Why fixed? It gives immediate nerve reaction control of the mount. Faced with any danger or obstacle, a cyclists automatically stops pedalling, or tries to do so, and with fixed this action immediately regulates the speed. It gives better control in traffic and on a club bash when riding up someones chuff (close to a wheel) you can regulate your pace to near perfection, and avoid a touch if the speed of the bunch is checked momentarily. But we all know its a bugger when descending as you have to pedal all the bleeding time. Simply you and the bike are as one when on fixed. The ultimate is a tandem or a trike on fixed. Not for the bottler's (faint hearted). As Johnny Tillotson would sing Poetry In Motion!
Thats all for now. Keep those wheels spinning, in your memories if not still on the road. Be lucky Mick Butler Huntingdon UK.