A History of Cycling in n+1 Objects: No. 1 – The Wire Spoked Wheel
By way of preamble all cyclists know that the correct answer to the question, “How many bicycles should one own?”, is n+1, where n represents the number of bicycles currently owned. There … Continue reading
Cyclists and Crime: Vignettes from the Illustrated Police News
I have a suspicion that, contrary to the popular adage, it is crime that is the oldest profession. It is certainly the case that criminals are quick to exploit new technologies, often … Continue reading
Great Rides: Hugo Koblet wins Brive-Agen, 1951
Sunday 15 July 1951 saw the riders line up for the eleventh stage of the thirty-eighth Tour de France, a 175 kilometre run along a rolling route from Brive to … Continue reading
Cycling Patents of Yesteryear: No. 2 – Ruffhead and Scheer’s Adjustable Bicycle Parasol, 1896
Contemporary Western ideals of female beauty among the middle and upper classes during the nineteenth century called for a fair complexion. Unlike today’s preference for a healthy glow, whether acquired … Continue reading
Chased by a Lion – An African Cyclist’s Mad Ride for Life
Back in 2007 Springboks star Bryan Habana, widely regarded as the fastest rugby player on the planet at the time, famously raced against a cheetah to raise awareness of their … Continue reading
Military Cycling: The Volunteer Cyclist Manoeuvres, Easter 1887
Professional armies may often be inherently conservative organisations but they are quick to examine new technology to assess its utility in a military context. The introduction of the bicycle was no … Continue reading
Mark Twain Learns to Ride a Bicycle
Today learning to ride a bicycle is usually a rite of passage for children as they graduate from using stabilisers to riding a bike without the assistance of aids to … Continue reading
Cycling History 