That said, it's hard to grasp the full extent of the bicycle's impact on americans in the late 19th century – particularly female americans. imagine a population imprisoned by their very clothing; the stiff corsets, heavy skirts, and voluminous petticoats that made it difficult to take a deep breath, let alone exercise. add to that the laws and social conventions that cemented a man's place as head of the household and holder of the purse strings. how suffocated women must have felt. and how liberated they must have been as they pedaled their wheels toward new horizons. —introduction to wheels of change, sue macy what is the central idea of this part of the introduction? the introduction of the bicycle is one of many factors that led to women’s liberation. the introduction of the bicycle provided a way for women to begin exercising regularly. the introduction of the bicycle drastically changed women’s wardrobes. the introduction of the bicycle showed that men were the heads of their households.