Context: Bicycles in the Late 1800's

Submitted by Sam_P on Mon, 03/03/2008 - 14:19.

Image of an unidentified group of men and women standing or sitting at the edge of a field, posing with bicycles. The shore of Langley, Prince Edward Island is visible in the background. Charles Drew is front and center reclined on the ground.

Bicycles became popular in the early 1800's. They were invented in Europe. There were 1.4 billion bicycles in use by 1900. People used bicycles around the world and still use them, even today. The first pedal bicycle was made in 1839; it didn't have a name. Bicycles with two equal-sized wheels, like the ones we use today, were developed in the late 19th century. They quickly became popular.

Women wore certain types of dresses back then to ride bicycles. The women who did ride them changed their dress fashion for safety reasons. For men, there were only pant clips so that their pants would not get caught in the chain. Also, there were no helmets back then.

It was said that bicycles had an air of romance.

Cycling in Langley, ca. 1895
PARO, Acc 3466/HF72.66.4.45
Charles Drew is front and center reclined on the ground.

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Entries referring to " Context: Bicycles in the Late 1800's "

TitleAuthorType of Post
Old Bicycle AdvertismentanthonygBlog entry
The CometSam_PBlog entry
Context: Automobiles in the Early 1900'stysonpBlog entry
Context: Buggies, Sleighs and Carriages in the Late 1800'sashleyrdBlog entry
Context: Blacksmiths' WorkkatiefBlog entry
Context: How Did People Travel in PEI in 1900?tiffanyhBlog entry
Context: Farming in the Late 1800's and Early 1900'stannermBlog entry
Context: Horses and Work in the Late 1800'sJadeBBlog entry
Context: Funerals in the Early 1900'snatashapBlog entry
Context: Horse Racing in the Early 1900'sandymBlog entry
Context: Trains on P.E.ILiving ArchivesBlog entry
Context: Ice Boats in the Late 1800'sbrettSBlog entry
Bicycle GoodsSam_PBlog entry
Bike PageSam_PBlog entry
Bicycle RepairsanthonygBlog entry
Hartford BicyclesanthonygBlog entry
The Comet BicycleanthonygBlog entry
Bicycle PartsanthonygBlog entry
Bicycle RepairingnickjBlog entry
The Bicycle Built for OnenickjBlog entry
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