*OLD* cycling shots
 

I was poking around on the Library of Congress web site tonight and dug up a bunch of early 20th century cycling pics. I thought I'd share some here. These are all from around Chicago and date from around 1900 to about 1930.

Some more.

Coolest **** ever! OneTinSloth will get a kick out of this too...

Sweet! Not a brake in sight!

any mention on the velo location? Doesn't look like Northbrook to me. And that looks like skitbra, in the first pic, far right

Excellent!

THe guy on the rollers looks to be Keirin style. Perhaps a bit newer than the others?

possibly a dumb question: is that watertower in the last picture(i think it's in one of the earlier ones as well, but tough to tell).
dan

Maybe a little newer. The trainer pic is 1929 (the date is in the top left, although reversed). The start of the Bay Bike Race (buddy in the hat holding the two racers) is 1917.

Very nice post. I was needing a new wallpaper.

The true sport of cycling has not changed very much since 1900.

I like it.

I _want_ their outfits too-- not a stitch of polyester!

awesome. I love the old pic's.

cool pix. in the very first one, on the left, the guy in the watch cap who is scowling at the camera - dig the slack fork angle on that bike! you could ride that bike no-handed all day.

Last pic: Critical Mass meet up!(?)

Excellent finds FD, thanks for the share.

yea, the early years

Ah... the early 20th century, when bike racing was the sport for real men. The NASCAR of the 1920s.

dig those shots. i'm wincing at the seat angle of the dude on the rollers though... :eek:

I thought this one was kinda interesting. The caption describes him as a NYC bicycle messenger.

I like this one.

"when bike racing was the sport for real men. The NASCAR of the 1920s"

This implies NASCAR is a sport for real men. Please revise.

Dude, I used to love me some NASCAR, don't even. (I don't really have time for 4 hour oval track races anymore, but back in the day...)

CM is dead.

"I used to love me some NASCAR, don't even"

We'll forgive you; you seem to have come to your senses.

Nascar with a single-speed tranny, no brakes, and some sort of physical effort, now maybe....

The guy in the middle of the first picture looks like hes about to kick someones arse. Those bikes almost have the angles of lowrider bikes...very out stretched forks. love the pics

Hey Kona, can you repost that in a larger size please? It looks like a sweet picture.