Saturday, October 9, 2010

Article describes Annie Londonderry Progress

Text of newspaper article from 1895. Article titled "Nervy Miss Londonderry."
From The Evening Times. (Washington, D.C.) September 16, 1895.
chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84024441/1895-09-16/ed-...

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Here it says that she only had to ride 10,000 miles to fulfill her wager to travel around the world "by bicycle" - and that she had done that by the time she reached Chicago (on her way to Boston). So the article notes she was still considering finishing her trip by train.

99 Cycling Posters from the Past

Very nice set of bike posters on Flickr. Unfortunately not set up so I can embed easily here.

Friday, October 8, 2010

1895 Cartoon Lampoons Women Cyclists' Attire

"Doubtful" - Lady Cyclist cartoon (1895)

From The Evening Times. (Washington, D.C.) September 16, 1895.
Follows a short article about Annie Londonderry's trip by (or with) bicycle around the world.
chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84024441/1895-09-16/ed-...

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Cyclists in Deadly Accidents

This news item is like many that I see now that I set up a Google news alert on "bicycle" - there is an item like this almost every day!
The president of the Wisconsin Cycling Association has died from injuries suffered when he was struck by a car while bicycling Friday in Waukesha County. Jeff Littman was also a well-known bike racer and co-owner of a bike store. Authorities said the driver of the car, who wasn't injured in the crash, said the sun blinded him and caused him not to see Littman and another bicyclist.

Have to remember to be careful out there.

Women Cyclists of the 1890s

Annie Londonderry, who rode around the world on a bicycle, also made a bold (for the time) fashion statement.

From the St. Paul Daily Globe, April 14, 1895

Annie Londonderry "Costume" 1895

Generally in 1895 women's cycling attire was more conventional, as shown here. (San Francisco Call, June 1, 1895)

Ladies Cycling Club San Jose CA 1895

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Cycling Fiends of 1894

While searching for information about Annie Londonderry, who rode around the world in 1895, I found the following article that demonstrates that doctors were quite free with their opinions about cycling.

"In my daily wait in Central Park," said Dr. Sayre, "I have been very much struck by the number of young men who ride bicycles in harmful positions. They lean over till their noses almost touch the front wheel, their arms fixed to the handles with the rigity of death, their chests caved in and their backs bent into a semicircle. The girls ride in better positions than the men as a rule, because their feminine self-respect prevents them from making themselves ridiculous."

"I have spoken to several of the young men in the park about it, saying to them: 'Now, my boy, why don't you sit up like that pretty girl." This usually has the effect of making them getting into better positions and also of making them feel uncomfortable."

"They tell me that they stoop because the resistance of the wind is decreased in this position, and they get more purchase on the wheel. But the exercise, if it really necessitates such a position, is worse than useless. The bicyclists should take time, and not be in such a feverish hurry."


From the article "The Cycling Fiends" in the St. Paul Daily Globe, October 22, 1894

Odometer Made More Appealing

Searching for posters and advertising for bicycles from the late 19th century turns up many things. For only a dollar one could have an odometer to keep track of how far one traveled. It isn't clear what year this is from - one notes the rather large number of miles the rider has accumulated. An allusion to Annie Londonderry and her cycling around the world?

Veeder Cyclometer