History on Velodromedary

Bicycling, Temperance

Sun, 09 Feb 2014 17:13:59 +0000

Temperance advocate Frances E. Willard wrote in 1895, “… the bicycle was perhaps our strongest ally in winning young men away from public-houses, because it afforded them a pleasure far more enduring, and an exhilaration as much more delightful as the natural is than the unnatural.”

She Drank Her Ale At The Bar(!) -- NY Times, 1896.

Tue, 31 Dec 2013 21:37:20 +0000

She Drank Her Ale At The Bar(!) – NY Times, 1896.

Two posters ten years apart

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 15:15:47 +0000

Two posters ten years apart

1940s blame-the-cyclist cartoons (sent to me by a few people, thanks)

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 05:50:06 +0000

1940s blame-the-cyclist cartoons (sent to me by a few people, thanks)

1988(?) Japanese commercial for Panasonic bikes.

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 06:51:30 +0000

1988(?) Japanese commercial for Panasonic bikes.

1979 Honolulu bicycle license sticker, seen on an old Schwinn

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 04:12:00 +0000

1979 Honolulu bicycle license sticker, seen on an old Schwinn

Another article from 1970: "A sport the whole family can enjoy together. A way to get into condition and fight pollution. It's...

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Another article from 1970: “A sport the whole family can enjoy together. A way to get into condition and fight pollution. It’s the bicycle. […] For the serious cyclist the bike itself is only the beginning. There are special shoes and socks […] and special seamless pants […] But the family bicycler takes things much less seriously. An old pair of jeans, tennis shoes and a sweatshirt do just fine”

Another 1970s article from the library: a group (43 amateur riders, men and women, ages 15 to 53) biking 800 miles and over all...

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Another 1970s article from the library: a group (43 amateur riders, men and women, ages 15 to 53) biking 800 miles and over all 8 major passes through the Sierra Nevada, in 8 days.

Presumably on steel bikes with all-1970s component technology, without spandex shorts, and so on – another good reminder that the engine matters more than the chassis…

More history: in 1971 there was a "Pedal Hoppers" bike bus (24 bikes + 24 passengers) between the East Bay and SF (as usual,...

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 14:00:00 +0000

More history: in 1971 there was a “Pedal Hoppers” bike bus (24 bikes + 24 passengers) between the East Bay and SF (as usual, clicking on the image should enlarge it). This is especially relevant when you realize the BART Transbay Tube didn’t open until 1973 (per BART history).

Another from-a-visit-to-the-Oakland-library biking photo and article from 1976 (click through for a detailed view). Note:...

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 15:00:00 +0000

Another from-a-visit-to-the-Oakland-library biking photo and article from 1976 (click through for a detailed view). Note: 200-300 SFBC members then vs. 12,000 now…

The full article that went with the 1971 DiFi pennyfarthing photo. I have more early-1970s Bay Area cycling articles I'll post...

Sun, 16 Oct 2011 23:21:00 +0000

The full article that went with the 1971 DiFi pennyfarthing photo. I have more early-1970s Bay Area cycling articles I’ll post this week.

1971 photo of "Mayoralty candidate Dianne Feinstein" on a pennyfarthing (found on a recent library visit).

Sun, 16 Oct 2011 00:54:00 +0000

1971 photo of “Mayoralty candidate Dianne Feinstein” on a pennyfarthing (found on a recent library visit).