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| collecting bicycles |
Like the motor car, there is no one inventor who can truly be credited with their creation but rather several designers working in the early- to mid-18oos who almost simultaneously developed aspects of the modern design with which we are all familiar.
These early machines each had aspects akin to today's bikes but also incorporated mechanisms that would never truly solve the problems of pedal-driven propulsion. In fact, some didn't have pedals at all; the rider simply sat on the saddle and scooted along by running and kicking out with his legs.
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| collecting bicycles |
Not surprisingly, there were few women cyclists and most men were jarred so badly by the experience that they never tried it twice! In polite company, the cycles were called 'bone-shakers' but they may have had other names in male circles!
Pedals gave better propulsion. Some - like the penny-farthing - had disproportionate wheels that gave great drive motion but turned balancing into something more suited to a circus act. Others used
pedals on the front wheel like the penny-farthing but reduced 'the wheel size to the one with
which we are now familiar.
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| collecting bicycles |
Front-wheel drive is very limited and the creation of rear-wheel propulsion was one of three factors that finally turned the bicycle into a viable form of transport. The other two were pneumatic tyres and the improvement of roads .
Cycles became popular in the late 1800s although not all were bicycles. The tricycle included some extraordinary contraptions for two riders seated side by side and possessed two huge front wheels and a smaller rear wheel. These designs ultimately failed on the road but the pedal principle on which they are based evolved and remains in the mechanism that drives pedalo boats on park lakes.
As the 19th century wore on, cycling became frequently used as a form of light exercise suitable for both gentlemen and ladies. By the 1890s, bicycles had spread around the globe.
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| collecting bicycles |
Collecting machines from this era is almost impossible. They rarely appear for sale and the cost is high. Four-figure sums would not be unusual but there are plenty of reasonably priced cycling-related accessories. Cycling maps were published showing Victorians which routes were safe, suitably paved and free from major gradients, an especially important consideration on machines where mechanisms to gain speed were better advanced than those for reducing it.
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| collecting bicycles |
The Bickerton Classic fold-away city bike. Created in the 1980s as a response to the demands of traffic congestion in inner cities, its ultra- light aluminium frame could be collapsed into a manageable carry bag. The Bickerton cost $300-£200 when new and could be assembled in less than a minute. The bag hung on the handle bars for shopping.
The electrical or motorised
cycle, several of which were launched between 1946 and 1960. The rider pedalled
until reaching a set speed - often around five miles an hour - before the bike,
either manually or automatically, changed to motor driven. Production of
prototypes was often rushed into marketing causing financial ruin. Mopeds
proved more popular but the principle might yet be taken up in the energy
conscious 21st century.
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| collecting bicycles |
Cycle Memorabilia.
If cost is a problem, why not look into cycle related
memorabilia. Lamps, tools and repair kits give an insight into a bygone era and
can be purchased for a couple of pounds. Brass bulb-ended horns from the 1920s,
tool kits containing spanners, valves and puncture pads can be found for $10-15 £5-10.
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| collecting bicycles |
Children tricycles are another idea for lower budget collecting. The Mobo Child's Trike was a popular post-war austerity design. There were no pedals, just a bent bar through the centre of the front wheel. Tyres were solid and the ride was uncomfortable so many are still lying around the loft, barely used.
Collectibles Coach
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