Juliet's bicycle

Juliet’s bicycle is the literal and metaphorical vehicle by which she creates relationships with others. (Juliet makes a similar comparison between herself and her bicycle when she dismounts it to “tighten her loose joints”—that is, those of her bicycle and her own.) The bicycle allows her to obtain her first typewriting job quickly thereby hearing of the anarchist commune later that very day at lunch. Juliet’s fellow anarchist comrades warmed up to her because they were interested in learning how to bicycle. Upon leaving the commune, she crashes into Michaela who we, the reader, learn to be Meta, the fiancé of Juliet’s love interest Romeo.

At the opening of chapter eight, Juliet mentions “bicycle face” along with other disadvantages of her beloved bicycle—its loosened screws as well as the inability for calm reflection whilst riding it. The shift in Juliet’s attitude about her bicycle marks the end of its life—crashing into Michaela about in corner. Here too, Juliet realizes that she is indeed a woman before she is a cyclist because she looks at her own wounds before those of her bicycle; an observation that separates her further from the independent, progressive, bicycling woman in a cycling suit.

When she had her bicycle, Juliet was essentially alone (with the exception of Commissioner Lin). It was a vehicle meant for one person and as such, it is during this time in the novel where Juliet does not have any meaningful (human) relationships. The death of Juliet’s bicycle and her use of trains and gondolas later in the novel coincide with her emotional involvement with Romeo and Michaela (Meta). Even when Juliet must leave Venice, she depends on Meta to return to London (or more specifically, she depends on Meta’s funds).

While the novel begins with a bicycle, it ends with a romantic image of Juliet revealing her identity and bidding goodbye to Meta on a gondola. The gondola, unlike a bicycle with its clunky, mechanical gears and chains, is more aesthetically simple with a smooth, traditionally wooden, body that glides along the Venetian canals. It is noteworthy that the novel’s most dramatic action surrounding Juliet’s emotional affair is discussed with Romeo and Meta on the more aesthetically simple of the two vehicles.