Most people take it for granted: riding a bike. In the late 1800s, the bicycle first came to the United States from Europe. This new "steel horse" was wildly popular. But for women, who either worked in factories or stayed at home, the bicycle liberated them like nothing ever has. One two-wheeled invention changed fashion, opened doors, and led to a movement in women''s rights still felt today.

Pat Perrin has written more than 100 books with her husband. For 13 years she lived in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico where she created and managed a scholarship program for at-risk youth.