Vintage Bicycle Collecting

Vintage Bicycles

Do you remember that first bike. I surely do, I had wheels, I was mobile, I could go anywhere and did. Transportation was cool. I am sure many of you have fond memories of your first bicycle. The first ride was an adventure and great fun.

On this page I want to bring you a little history of the vintage bicycle and a few collecting tips. The bicycle has come along way from a few boards with wheels attached to the mechanical marvel of today.

Vintage Bicycle History

The first bicycle had two wheels and no pedals.

Known as the Draisienne or Hobbyhorse this machine was presented to the public in Paris France in 1819. Designed by Baron von Drais, this bicycle was simply a wooden frame with two wheels which the rider sat on and pushed along with his feet while steering the front wheel with a handle bar.
The hobbyhorse was duplicated by builders in many countrys around the world. Some of the best were produced in England by Denis Johnson and were knows as the velocipede. Compared to early models these machines were better built and much lighter. Because of poor roads and hard wheels these bicycles were a punishing ride and the hobbyhorse lost favor with the public during the 1820's

My favorite source for vintage bicycles

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Vintage Bicycle History 2

At last a better way to make it go.

1860- A better way to make it go. Before 1860 many people thought a rider could not keep their balance very far not having their feet on the ground. This idea was proven wrong by many new builders of bicycles.

The addition of pedals to provide forward motion was the answer to make it go and it was found that a rider could balance and steer the machines quite well.

These changes to the velocipede brought new interest to cycling world wide, however the interst did not last as these bicycles were much to heavy, hard to steer and slow. The pedals only allowed one revolution of the drive wheel.This design did however give a base for development in the coming years.

Draisienne 1819

Vintage Bicycle History 3

Lighter and Faster

In Britain, as popularity of the velocipede fell off, the search went on for a lighter and faster bicycle. The search was led by the cycling sportsmen, cycling clubs and the growing bicycle manufacturing industry.

British bicycle builders, by 1870, had built a new type of velocipede with a large front wheel made possible by a new way to consruct the wheels. The new wheels, known as suspension wheels, used wire spokes, and rubber mounted on the rims to make for a much lighter and smoother riding wheel. The rear wheel was made smaller to save weight. Also around this time period the tubular frame began to be used on most models.

The riders of these cycles sat over the front wheel to be able to reach the pedals, which looks a little scary to me, but the new faster, lighter cycle was born.