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By Chia Han Keong
SPORTING a blond moustache and soul patch to go with an all-black outfit and striking, diamond- shaped sunglasses, Gary Fisher could easily be mistaken for a bohemian artist.
In a sense, he is.
After all, he is widely credited with having invented the modern-day mountain bike 30 years ago.
Here is his version of utopia: A place where cars and bicycles co-exist peacefully on the road and where people prefer environment-friendly bicycles to the "poisonous emissions" from cars.
"It's already happening in my hometown of San Francisco," said the 58-year-old yesterday.
"As more cyclists take to the streets, people become more aware of them and gradually become far more tolerant."
Fisher was in Singapore at the invitation of Singapore bike distributor Treknology.
He attended last weekend's mountain- bike carnival in Tampines as well as the BikeAsia exhibition at the Singapore Expo.
He participated in the carnival's 100km marathon, which was unfortunately cut short owing to inclement weather last Saturday.
Nonetheless, the American was impressed by the skill levels of Singapore cyclists - something he had never envisaged when he first assembled a mountain bike in 1979.
He said: "Those youngsters who perform tricks on mountain bikes? They surprise me the most. I never thought that such stunts could be done on a mountain bike.
"But that goes with the spirit of cycling - personalised fun for all. You're free to be yourself."
Indeed, Fisher's creation has freed up new avenues for cyclists.
Once confined to flat roads, they can now traverse mountainous regions and rough terrain.
He believes that as more people take to cycling as a viable mode of transport, the evolution of the bicycle will continue.
He said: "The biggest evolution will happen between man's ears - in our minds.
"Once we realise the potential of the bike, there are endless things that can be done with a two-wheeled vehicle."
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