The Royal Speedwell in Lonely Lands
12-16-11 | 09:35 PM
#1
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From: The First State.
Bikes: Schwinn Continental, Schwinn Paramount, Schwinn High Plains, Schwinn World Sport, Trek 420, Trek 930,Trek 660, Novara X-R, Giant Iguana. Fuji Sagres mixte.
The Royal Speedwell in Lonely Lands
I'm trapped in the house recovering from some minor surgery and wistfully reading cycling adventures of yore. In 1905 Francis Birtles rode 8,000 miles across and around Australia on a Royal Speedwell:
It strikes me how much this looks like a 650b randonneur. The Australian manufactured Royal Speedwell sported 3 speeds and a freewheel. He states that he was pedaling 85 lbs, 25 of which was the bike.
Another view of the bike:
The story of his trip is here.
It strikes me how much this looks like a 650b randonneur. The Australian manufactured Royal Speedwell sported 3 speeds and a freewheel. He states that he was pedaling 85 lbs, 25 of which was the bike.
Another view of the bike:
The story of his trip is here.
12-17-11 | 06:53 AM
#3
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From: Liberty, Missouri
Bikes: 1966 Paramount | 1971 Raleigh International | ca. 1970 Bernard Carre | 1989 Waterford Paramount | 2012 Boulder Brevet | 2019 Specialized Diverge
Pretty cool looking old bike, isn't it? I'd love to find something like that one day.
12-17-11 | 09:40 AM
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From: Liberty, Missouri
Bikes: 1966 Paramount | 1971 Raleigh International | ca. 1970 Bernard Carre | 1989 Waterford Paramount | 2012 Boulder Brevet | 2019 Specialized Diverge
Loaded the book to my iPad this morning and began to read...boy, was touring ever DIFFERENT back in the day!
12-17-11 | 10:21 AM
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Ohh nice link!!!!!
They have Fred Birchmore's around the world by bicycle as well. He just turned 100 Nov 29 and still doing well.
https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL457...rchmore_Fred_A.
More about Fred (his bike is in the Smithsonian)
https://www.athensmove.com/life/life-...red-birchmore/
They have Fred Birchmore's around the world by bicycle as well. He just turned 100 Nov 29 and still doing well.
https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL457...rchmore_Fred_A.
More about Fred (his bike is in the Smithsonian)
https://www.athensmove.com/life/life-...red-birchmore/
12-17-11 | 06:01 PM
#8
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Joined: Sep 2011
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From: The First State.
Bikes: Schwinn Continental, Schwinn Paramount, Schwinn High Plains, Schwinn World Sport, Trek 420, Trek 930,Trek 660, Novara X-R, Giant Iguana. Fuji Sagres mixte.
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