Bicycle Archive

01/20/2023

01/20/2023

12/13/2022

07/19/2022

07/06/2022

08/20/2021

Hope we don’t get in trouble for re-posting!

08/19/2021

08/12/2021

04/24/2021

03/18/2021

03/15/2021

12/21/2020

How a Bicycle is Made (1945)

How a Bicycle is Made (1945)

The design and manufacture of Raleigh bicycles. Find out more information about this title at britishcouncil.org/film.

09/04/2020

01/23/2020

07/22/2019

“Viva La Tour”

04/01/2019

02/15/2019

Does anyone else remember this race?

02/06/2019

A belated obituary for Major Taylor is featured in the Sunday Feb. 3, 2019 edition of The New York Times.

11/05/2018

05/18/2016

Timeline photos

05/11/2016

Cyrille Van Hauwaert (1883–1974) was a Belgian professional road bicycle racer, known for winning classics as Bordeaux-Paris (1907 and 1909), Milan–San Remo and Paris–Roubaix (both 1908). In 1909 he won the first stage of the Tour de France, and was leading the general classification for one day.

Like many professional bicyclist Van Hauwaert had a bicycle in his name the poster seen here was a promotional item for those bikes.

03/03/2016

Schwinn Cycle Truck
Will carry 150 lbs. with ease and safety. The load is carried on frame so it steers like an ordinary bicycle. The Cycle Truck is heavy-duty built throughout to keep you from having upkeep expenses. It's low-geared for easy pedaling. Boys and girls can earn money by making deliveries for grocers, butchers, chain stores, etc. and usually pay for it as they earn. You won't have to look long for a delivery job and a good paying one if you show the boss your Cycle-Truck!

02/22/2016

Is this really what it's come to????

01/27/2016

What does sewing machines have to do with bicycles? Read on: The French vélocipède, made of iron and wood, developed into the "penny-farthing", historically known as an "ordinary bicycle.” It featured a tubular steel frame on which were mounted wire-spoked wheels with solid rubber tires. These bicycles were difficult to ride due to their high seat and poor weight distribution. In 1868 Rowley Turner, a sales agent of the Coventry Sewing Machine Company (which soon became the Coventry Machinists Company), brought a Michaux bicycle to Coventry, England. His uncle, Josiah Turner, and business partner James Starley, used this as a basis for the 'Coventry Model' in what became Britain's first cycle factory.

12/11/2015

Raphaël Géminiani said: "Andre Darrigade 1929 -1958 was the greatest French sprinter of all time and he'll stay that way for a long time. The mould has been broken. But he wasn't just a sprinter. He was an animateur who could start decisive breaks; he destroyed the image of sprinters who just sit on wheels." He began his sprints from a long distance from the line, challenging others to pass him. It endeared him to the French public.

12/01/2015

On 19 January 1984, in Mexico City, Francesco Moser broke the 1972 hour record of Eddy Merckx. He rode 50.808 kilometers, on an aerodynamic bike with full disc wheels more advanced than the conventional bike Merckx used in 1972 (see below). As a result, in 1997 the Union Cycliste Internationale banned hour records set on bikes featuring technological advantages. Under the new rules, Merckx's record wasn't broken until 2000. Moser auctioned his bicycle to benefit UNICEF.

11/17/2015

Daisy Bell aka “A Bicycle Built for Two”, is song written in 1892 by Frank Dean (1857-1922) using the pen name Harry Dacre. This print is from The Good Old Days.

11/07/2015

Since the invention of the bicycle it has been part of the circus, seen here is Strobridge Litho poster from 1917 showing a unicycle team descending stairs.

10/27/2015

‘Cycles Liberator’ opened their Pantin, France factory in 1898, and was purchased by La Francaise Diamant in 1909. Liberator cycles seems to be the bicycle most favored by bare breasted women with wings or in armor. tontonvelo.com tell us that Maurice Garin won the first Tour de France in 1903 on a La Francaise. They produced bikes up until the 1950s and maybe later.
Check this site out…
http://www.oldbike.eu/museum/bikes-1800s/1898-1899/31724-2/

10/22/2015

The history of New Imperial, founded by Norman Downes, goes back to the early days of the bicycle industry in Birmingham England. From 1887 New Imperial made bicycle fittings and, later, complete bicycles, possibly after he bought the ailing bicycle business of Hearl and Tonks (founded 1892). It is also said that he created New Imperial in 1901, but no official record of the earliest company formation has been found. Official records do show the formation of a limited company in 1908 called the New Imperial Cycle Company. The name, New Imperial, was reportedly sold to BSA in later years.

10/21/2015

Be There or Be Square!

10/21/2015

The cover of the 1970 World’s programme in Great Britian.

10/16/2015

Welcome to the Bicycle Archive page, check back now and then for great bicycle memorabilia.