Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - *OLD* cycling shots
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Fugazi Dave
10-26-04, 02:42 AM
I was poking around on the Library of Congress web site tonight and dug up a bunch of early 20th century cycling pics. I thought I'd share some here. These are all from around Chicago and date from around 1900 to about 1930.
Fugazi Dave
10-26-04, 02:43 AM
Some more.
lucklust
10-26-04, 02:46 AM
Coolest **** ever! OneTinSloth will get a kick out of this too...
Sweet! Not a brake in sight!
pitboss
10-26-04, 05:36 AM
any mention on the velo location? Doesn't look like Northbrook to me. And that looks like skitbra, in the first pic, far right
skitbraviking
10-26-04, 05:42 AM
THe guy on the rollers looks to be Keirin style. Perhaps a bit newer than the others?
possibly a dumb question: is that watertower in the last picture(i think it's in one of the earlier ones as well, but tough to tell).
dan
Maybe a little newer. The trainer pic is 1929 (the date is in the top left, although reversed). The start of the Bay Bike Race (buddy in the hat holding the two racers) is 1917.
Very nice post. I was needing a new wallpaper.
The true sport of cycling has not changed very much since 1900.
I like it.
I _want_ their outfits too-- not a stitch of polyester!
jfmckenna
10-26-04, 06:33 AM
awesome. I love the old pic's.
cicadashell
10-26-04, 07:16 AM
cool pix. in the very first one, on the left, the guy in the watch cap who is scowling at the camera - dig the slack fork angle on that bike! you could ride that bike no-handed all day.
Last pic: Critical Mass meet up!(?)
Excellent finds FD, thanks for the share.
skitbraviking
10-26-04, 08:40 AM
Last pic: Critical Mass meet up!(?)
yea, the early years
bostontrevor
10-26-04, 09:29 AM
Ah... the early 20th century, when bike racing was the sport for real men. The NASCAR of the 1920s.
FixednotBroken
10-26-04, 10:21 AM
dig those shots. i'm wincing at the seat angle of the dude on the rollers though... :eek:
SSenorPedro
10-26-04, 12:03 PM
I thought this one was kinda interesting. The caption describes him as a NYC bicycle messenger.
Dannihilator
10-26-04, 12:34 PM
I like this one.
"when bike racing was the sport for real men. The NASCAR of the 1920s"
This implies NASCAR is a sport for real men. Please revise.
bostontrevor
10-26-04, 01:15 PM
Dude, I used to love me some NASCAR, don't even. (I don't really have time for 4 hour oval track races anymore, but back in the day...)
SD Fixed
10-26-04, 01:19 PM
Last pic: Critical Mass meet up!(?)
CM is dead.
"I used to love me some NASCAR, don't even"
We'll forgive you; you seem to have come to your senses.
Nascar with a single-speed tranny, no brakes, and some sort of physical effort, now maybe....
Serbaside
10-26-04, 01:31 PM
The guy in the middle of the first picture looks like hes about to kick someones arse. Those bikes almost have the angles of lowrider bikes...very out stretched forks. love the pics
lucklust
10-26-04, 01:36 PM
Hey Kona, can you repost that in a larger size please? It looks like a sweet picture.
bostontrevor
10-26-04, 01:42 PM
What do you know about the middle photo in the second set? I see a black rider in the group. It's probably not Major Taylor but it could be... right? It would have to be quite a bit earlier than 1920, though one of them is dated 1917, so maybe... I don't know how many other racers of color there were at the time.
Beautiful photos. Thanks. Some of those guys look ****ing hardcore.
UNCLECHET
10-27-04, 06:09 PM
Those are some great pictures! Wouldn't be fun to go back to those times and see just how fast those guys were! Sure looks like fun!
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