Following the enthusiastic reception for my article with vintage bicycle pictures (if you missed it the link is here) I have managed to unearth some even older pictures from the early days of velocipedes. Velocipedes is the collective name given to the predecessors and early versions of bicycles, penny-farthings and bones shakers which existed in the 1800s.
Before I share some of these pictures with you let me quickly mention my ‘Bike Boys’ video which includes a number of vintage photos of bicycles. You can view this video by clicking on the box below (or simply listen to the music – written by yours truly – while you read the rest of this article…
Now let’s take a look at some of the Velocipedes, etc.,
‘Ordinary’ (Penny Farthing) Bicycle Race from 1890Ordinary Bicycle Race from 1890A Country Bike Ride in 1887The Invincible German ‘Renn’ (or ‘Racing’) Bicycle drawn in 18871885 Bicycle Parade at Hartford, Connecticut, USASteps No Problem for These Penny Farthing Pros in 1884Sunset Tour for the Penny Farthing Enthusiasts Club in 1880The Humber Tricycle drawn in 1887The Humber Tandem TricycleDrawing of Invincible ‘Renn’ (‘Racing’) Tricycle from GermanyThe Manuped Bicycle drawn in 1887A Lady Takes a Ride on Her Otto Bicycle – Picture From 18871882 Photo of The Charles Oldreives TricycleThe 1880s ‘Sociable’ – Germany’s First Convertible Two SeaterAn Early Ecofriendly Freight Vehicle – The 1880s Luggage TricycleQuakers Demonstrating Velocipede Capabilities in this 1819 Print1819 The Velocipede – A Must Have For ‘Dandies’. Who Needs Pedals? Published in 1894In the Early Days Riders Had Freedom from Pedals. As Here With Von Drais’ 1818 ‘Reitmschine’ (Riding Machine)As Fashion Items Velocipedes Featured Often on Tobacco Packs. This One is from 1869Velocipede Riders Used to Promote Tobacco in 1869Clearly It Was Common For Gentlemen on Velocipedes To Smoke Pipes in 1869Long Before The Starship Enterprise Travellers Could Experience Double Warp Speed by Smoking This Stuff When Riding The Newly Developed Bikes With Rubber Tyres in 1861Before the Invention Of Rubber Tyres Riders Had to Endure A Pretty Rough Journey On ‘The Boneshaker’ – This One is from 1868The Michaux Velocipede Was Popular From 1867 to 1869. Then It Was Superseded By The ‘Ordinary’ or Penny FarthingBigger Wheels Meant More Distance For Each Turn of The Pedal -Also Fewer Wheels meant Fewer Service Problems. The Ultimate One WheelerIf You Prefer Your Little Wheel ‘Up front’ Try this Tricycle from 1880In 1868 Gentlemen Could Be Found In The Parks Parading On Their Bikes
I have added these and many more vintage bicycle photographs to the Vintage Photos section of this website (the cycling pics link is here).
Happy Cycling,
Chris Duggleby
If you would like some additional entertainment why not listen to my e-baroque compositions – just click on the video below:
alternatively here are some of my own compositions:
If you found this article interesting please consider taking a look at some of his other recent reports on similar subjects.
Chris Duggleby 