Bicycling in 1898
03-28-22, 10:25 AM
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Bicycling in 1898
Someone in my regional rando group posted this link:
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/5844...-h/58444-h.htm
Lots of hilarious opinion of the era. In keeping with a recent thread on tire savers, there's this:
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/5844...-h/58444-h.htm
Lots of hilarious opinion of the era. In keeping with a recent thread on tire savers, there's this:
Mr. Osborne of Brooklyn recently offered a carpet sweeper belted to the front wheel, which “will thrust aside small objects, such as nails, tacks, glass, sharp stones and the like, and leave a free path for the passage of the wheels of the bicycle.” This we respectfully refer to the Department of Street Cleaning.
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03-28-22, 11:00 AM
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Now I really want a gas-powered lantern for my commuter bike!!!
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03-28-22, 11:07 AM
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Originally Posted by RobertUI
Now I really want a gas-powered lantern for my commuter bike!!!
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03-28-22, 11:30 AM
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Pretty sure Jan Heine plagarized a lot of this in his latest book.
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03-28-22, 12:44 PM
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Originally Posted by gugie
Pretty sure Jan Heine plagarized a lot of this in his latest book.
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03-28-22, 01:48 PM
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Across Asia on a Bicycle by Thomas Gaskell Allen and William Lewis Sachtleben
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/311...lcome_stranger
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03-28-22, 05:05 PM
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Quite excellent nlerner . Good find!
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03-29-22, 01:56 AM
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A big "Thanks!" for those links! 
I am a real sucker for those types of stories, modern or "ancient".
I am a real sucker for those types of stories, modern or "ancient".
03-29-22, 02:10 PM
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Browsing through this stuff really gives a feel for what was going on in the business! I had no idea that shaft drive versus chain drive was still a big debate, nor that there were so many versions of shaft drive available!
Another aspect is just a look at the culture and idioms. In the days of high wheel bikes, they were often just called "wheels". Hence the term wheelmen and such. Interesting that bikes are still called "wheels" after two same-sized wheels were the standard. I guess it takes a while to drop some conventions... and maybe I should quit calling my bikes "ten speeds"??
Honestly, this sort of thing can be a black hole for my time. When I was in college, I'd look for a quiet spot in the library to work on homework, and then get distracted by whatever books were nearby. One such book was a compilation of "Cycling" newsletters. These dated from the 1880's or so, and were titled "Cycling" so as to include trikes along with bikes. Fascinating reading! I recall one road test of rubber tires. These were the basic solid tires that had a wire core to attach them to the rim. You'd think that this sort of technological improvement would be appreciated, but the reviewer didn't like them.... they were slower than the steel rims. Nice to know that it's not just me that rebels against "unnecessary" technological changes.
Steve in Peoria
(I actually do still have one bike set up with just 10 speeds)
Another aspect is just a look at the culture and idioms. In the days of high wheel bikes, they were often just called "wheels". Hence the term wheelmen and such. Interesting that bikes are still called "wheels" after two same-sized wheels were the standard. I guess it takes a while to drop some conventions... and maybe I should quit calling my bikes "ten speeds"??
Honestly, this sort of thing can be a black hole for my time. When I was in college, I'd look for a quiet spot in the library to work on homework, and then get distracted by whatever books were nearby. One such book was a compilation of "Cycling" newsletters. These dated from the 1880's or so, and were titled "Cycling" so as to include trikes along with bikes. Fascinating reading! I recall one road test of rubber tires. These were the basic solid tires that had a wire core to attach them to the rim. You'd think that this sort of technological improvement would be appreciated, but the reviewer didn't like them.... they were slower than the steel rims. Nice to know that it's not just me that rebels against "unnecessary" technological changes.
Steve in Peoria
(I actually do still have one bike set up with just 10 speeds)
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03-29-22, 05:36 PM
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I recently read the "Cycling through Asia" book. And one theme the students are constantly subjected to is, "you came from where?!?!" to "there is danger ahead". So I started googling those areas and fell into a wiki black hole about the craziness going on in western China 1870-80's. Those guys really shirted some dangerous areas.
03-30-22, 10:45 AM
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Looks like an opportunity to repost this photo of my great grandmother's bike club. She is second from right.
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