Inspired by a wildlife photograph, of a preying mantis sitting on an unfurling leaf-shoot whose leaves are wound back on themselves in a circular way. Back-lit by sunlight, this generated the optical illusion of a preying mantis riding a bike. Or else an unholy hybrid of insect and machine fused together, the sort of predator that might follow the Tour de France waiting for stragglers to drop out, an encouragement to keep up with the peloton. It was too good to miss and I added the following newspaper article….
New animal species evolves in Ankh-Morpork... God of Evolution suspected of developing a predator animal which is taking advantage of the rise in popularity of the bicycle as a means of getting around the City. it is believed to lurk in places where unsuspecting cyclists park their vehicles, believing they are safe and in no danger...
The God of Evolution was - respectfully - approached for a quote on this story. As He is known to manifest in the various entomological habitats of the City Zoo where He may be seen observing those aspects of His creation which He considers to be the pinnacle of the Tree of Life, it was not too difficult to track Him down to the insectorium housing the Zoo's renowned collection of beetles.
"Oh golly, I did rather create a controversial one here, didn't I?" the God said, with a disarmingly nervous giggle. "Let me explain. I'm sorry about all these cyclists who are getting decapitated and devoured. Heartfelt sympathies, and all that. But I'm a God. I have to at least listen to prayer. it's expected. And since those rather clever goblin chaps came up with the idea for a fast nippy two-wheeled contrivance for getting around - look jolly dangerous to me, beats me how they stay up - and the idea took off. Well, that created a hell of a noisy racket on the prayer channel. Cart drivers and taxi-cab drivers, for instance, getting fervent. "Gods, those bloody maniacs! Think they can go anywhere, do what they like, cutting through intersections, riding up on the bloody pavement, no regard, bloody nearly caused me to crash me cart! Gods, can't somebody do something to thin them out a bit?" - Well. you've got to respond, haven't you? It's rather forced on you."
The God might have said more, but a Dark Clerk arrived, and passed on kind regards for the God from Lord Vetinari, and also the request that the God might call by to the Palace for a private manifestation with the Patrician, "… with no great rush. His Lordship does rather like to be kept abreast of theological developments as they happen."
"Oh dear..." the God of Evolution remarked, and dematerialised. In something of a hurry.
Elsewhere in the City, the Guild of Assassins has commented that it notes the use of the new bicycle device by many of its students as a quick and agreeably physically exercising means of getting around. As a responsible educational establishment, it believes its students should undergo a Cycling Proficiency Test so they learn to travel safely and with due regard to the rules of the road and courtesy to other road users. it would be remiss in not insisting on such a test. Doctor Smith-Rhodes, the principal tutor in Natural History and Zoological Science, has been tasked with devising a test suitable to Assassin students who ride bikes, and she believes, having spent time gathering in samples of the Bicycle Mantis for observation, that she can devise a really exacting test that they won't forget in a hurry. The captive population is now in a Maximum Security Enclosure at the Guild's Animal Management Unit, where among other things, Doctor Smith-Rhodes is working out the challenge of devising a suitable diet for them.
Bicycles on the Discworld are alluded to twice; in Jingo, there is a static machine in the workroom of Leonard of Quirm, which Leonard believes may have uses as a means of exercise. In Raising Steam, towards the end, there is a clever goblin with an idea for using something similar as a means of getting about…. And of course there is the related one in Soul Music…