Cycling was a popular past time in early Christchurch. As far back as 1884 you could escape the rat race by joining the Tourists Cycling Club. On one of their many outings, eight ‘tourists’ tested their newly invented pnuematic tyres by cycling out to the tiny railway junction of Rolleston. One rider’s tyre burst on a shard of gravel. Luckily he was able to hop on the train back to town, and arrived home considerably less sweaty than his companions. Times have changed, but the joy of cycling and desire to escape the hustle and bustle remains. The Pedal Pusher is a nod to those glory days of cycling, and a great place to escape the rat race at the end of the day at work – or a long ride on the bike.