Perhaps Tom Dalton's commentary is entering into the anthropological sphere regarding bicycles, artistry, craftsmenship, ornamentation, valuation, etc. Traditional cultures ornamented utilitarian objects, weapons, pottery, embellished their clothing and houses, etc. They traded their handicrafts, pottery, baskets, etc., for other objects of value to them. Just humans bein' humans is what I see.
Disclaimer: I'm not an anthropologist, so any bona fide anthropologists out there are welcome to shoot this armchair theory down.
Peter
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Peter Brueggeman
La Jolla California USA
pbrueggeman(AT)ucsd.edu