EnigManiac

Just heard an interview on the radio with David Hirlehy, author of the new book: Bicycle. It is said to be the ultimate history of the bicycle. I'll make an attempt to acquire a copy. It sounds fascinating.

gonesh9

My girlfriend just got me that book for Vallentine's day, I think off of Amazon.com. Quickly glancing through it, it looks like a great book that details the entire history of the bicycle, from the earliest conception of the velocipede, through the high wheel, boneshaker, and safety bicyle eras and how each has evolved the bicycle to what it is today. I especially liked the many illustrations and advertisements from each era that depict the state of the bicycle in our culture throughout those times.

I-Like-To-Bike

What radio station call letters, time and city. Perhaps its on line.

Cycliste

I'm in the process of reading it (big book ), it is fascinating and very well written. Got it from my local library.

EnigManiac

It was a short interview (15 minutes) on CBC Radio One (various call-letters around Canada). I was listening on: 99.1. The interview is over now.

Dahon.Steve

I'm going to see if I can get my copy signed by the author in Edison, New Jersey! I'm still reading the book and it's incredible how expensive bikes were ($300.00) when they arrived around the late 1800's. A Model T Ford in 1925 was less than $300.00 dollar and this was 40 years later! I suspect you could have purchased a house for that same amount.

bhchdh 

I read the book last month. It's amazing how the non-cycling public and cyclists have been at odds sinnce the dawn of the bicycle.

Cycliste

Yes, and (also from this book) it was reserved to the priviledged few who often were assaulted by people who saw these "gentlemen of leisure" as wasters or some form of threat. A British velocipedist of those days used to call them the "illiberal illiterate". I love this book!