I am looking for some resources regarding the history of the bicycle. I've searched Amazon and there are a few but I'm looking for suggestions from cyclists. All media types are welcomed...print, video, audiobooks etc. Prefer options with good photos or illustrations.

Please post your suggestions or you can email me ideas at history@bicyclecrazy.com

Thanks so much!

There is the history of the bicycle, then there is the history of bicycling, etc.

I recently watched a video, The Six Day Bicycle Race. Almost nothing in there about the bikes themselves but it was grand fun on bicycle racing in the 1920s and 1930s.

The Dancing Chain seems to be really good on bicycles themselves, but I haven't actually seen the book myself!

Funny, I was planning on Googling "Bicycle history" tonight. (But I started reading here, and now it's time for bed; But I hope some good references will show up here, soon!)

This is pretty interesting.

https://paulshrivastava.com/Research%...20Bicycles.pdf

A good general survey, written by a professional historian, is David Herlihy, Bicycle: The History (Yale University Press, 2004), which addresses both the technical history of bicycle innovations and the social history of bicycling. It's especially strong on the 19th-century origins of the bicycle.

Frank Berto, The Dancing Chain (Van der Plas Publications, 4th ed., 2011), is specifically on the derailleur drivetrain and other multi-gear shifting systems. The various books that Jan Heine has written or edited, on René Herse, handbuilt bicycles, competition bikes, etc. are also good and lavishly illustrated. Compass Bicycles (Jan's company) has a well chosen stock of books on the history of bicycles and bicycling.

Hi,

There is nothing interesting in that article IMHO.

Just a lots of facts, some pretentious twaddle, and some data.

Its appallingly amateurish for someone who allegedly has a Ph.D,
I really wonder were he bought that from to be brutally honest.

rgds, sreten.

so this is how you do research ? try wikipedia?
I'm in popcorn mode..

Well you're an agreeable so and so, aren't ya?

You can start by checking out Sheldon's site- https://sheldonbrown.com/

Bicycles in War by Martin Caidin and Jay Barbree is always a good read on a subset of bicycling.

The Lost Cyclist - By David V. Herlihy gives a picture of the turn of the 20th Century.

You might check out "It's All About the Bike" by Robert Penn.

The videos are good too.

Thanks for all the great suggestions

I really enjoyed the Rob Penn videos

I liked and would recommend both of these.

Cycling steadily became more important in Europe over the first half of the twentieth century, but it dropped off dramatically in the United States between 1900 and 1910. Automobiles became the preferred means of transportation. Over the 1920s, bicycles gradually became considered children's toys, and by 1940 most bicycles in the United States were made for children. In Europe cycling remained an adult activity, and bicycle racing, commuting, and "cyclotouring" were all popular activities. In addition, specialist bicycles for children appeared before 1916

I have two high quality books that have a good history. 1) The American Bicycle by Jay Pridmore and Jim Hurd 2) Bicycle by David V Herlihy

Don't forget,the history of the bicycle starts with what we would call a scooter(velocipedes)....pedals started 30-40 years later.

early on it just was something to hold you up.. so the bike seat is older than the bike pedal..

Search for info on Pierre Lallement, who is credited with the invention of the bicycle. There is lots of info including

https://electronicvalley.org/derby/Ha...ent,Pierre.htm

It makes sense that humanity as a whole started with a strider bike. That's the right way to learn.

This is from 1972. I liked the author's writing style.

Also, this account of Schwinn's history was, for me, time spent well.

Google Books has much regarding the bicycle and its history, if perchance you haven't yet looked there.

Not a complete history by any means, but lots of fun reading here.
https://www.jimlangley.net/

This site has some good stories,
https://www.roadswerenotbuiltforcars.com/

Very UK-centric.