I've been looking into some of the early cycling clubs in Cincinnati and am curious if anyone else has done this for their own towns. Cincinnati's first club called "The Brighton Bicycle Club" was organized in 1878 and disbanded in 1890. Some of its members also were brewers, so apart from riding hard and racing they also apparently felt that lager beer was useful as a recovery drink. I have found that even in the late 1800's they had close ties with clubs in Chicago, Michigan, Lexington, and Philadelphia.

I think it would be great to post up some information or photos of other historic clubs.

The St. Louis Cycling Club has been in continuous operation since 1887, apparently....supposedly the oldest continuously operation cycling club in the country.

I have been researching the builder on my 1890's bike. I have my best luck searching google books. Rochester NH. The last couple of paragraphs are a hoot.



Rochester-Farmington_Club by barnstormerbikes, on Flickr


cycleclubclipping by barnstormerbikes, on Flickr

The Century Road Club of America (also?) claims to be the oldest, founded in 1891. I think they're based in New Jersey, so I guess I could call them 'local,' but I'm not a member. I'm still not sure I want to be a member of a cycling club.

I never thought of of dong it. in the book 'The Lost Cyclist' the rider the book deals with was hosted by almost every cycling club on his was across the US. I try and "page" through the book on my KOBO and see if any names are mentioned. he did do a ride from Pittsburgh to St louis at one time on a ordinary, New Orleans too I believe.

the lost cyclist is a great book.

The Louisville Wheelmen (now the Louisville Bicycle Club) was founded in 1897. Photos courtesy of The University of Louisville photographic archives.

This first photo looks like it may be in front of the historic Seelbach Hotel. That lady may have the smallest waist of any adult human I have ever seen. That's nuts.

These photos are awesome!

For some reason I can't upload a larger image. This is the Brighton Bicycle Club:

Colonel - Blown away - The faces look so familar - I remember braking the axil on my bike in the first grade - There was a bar on Nagalitos street in San Antonio Tx where all the Raspa Cart (kinda like an ice cream cart but for snow cones) vendors used to get their beers before riding home - Behind the bar was an ally where the guys had salvage bikes and carts used for repair - A few beers latter I not only had a replacement wheel but a Raspa in hand - I always though of that bar being a very high class bicycle club...