Boys Clothing Worn with Bicycles and Tricycles: National Trends


Figure 1.--This German brother and sister were photographed in Leipzig wearing matching sailor suits. The image is undated but we would estimate that it was taken about 1910. Note the distinctive girl's bike. Image courtesyof the MD collection.

Bikes were popular throughout Europe and America. Before World War I few children had bikes. They were quite expensive and mostly rode by adults. Rich children might have bikes, but it was not something that most children had. After World War I they became much more common. Many American children had bikes. I think this was primarily a factor of the greater affluence of American families. They were not quite as common in Europe, but many children had them. They were certainly items that were very popular with boys. Every boy wanted them. We believe that they were more commo for boys, but especially after World War I, girls also had them. Styling seems to have been very similar in Europe and America. The clothes the children wore, however, could be very destinctive. There are quite a number of bicycle and tricycle images loaded on HBC. Many of them are American images. We will eventually link them here, but this will take some time. We do note a German father and son about 1905-10.

America, Latin

We do mnot have much information on Latin America yet. We do recall that the Chinese donated large numbers of bikes to the Cubans. Cuba because of its socialist economy has experienced severe economic prolems. As a result they are unable to afford to purcvhase petroleumfor motor vehicles. Fortunately thay got the Soviets to donate oil. And then after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Chavez and the Venezuelans stpped up to donate oil. Even so, few Cubans can aaford to own cars ir purchase gasoline. Even so we do not see a cycling cultue developing in Cuba as we see in several European countries.

America, North


Canada

We are not sure about about the popularity of bikes in Canada. We thought it might be similar to America. The climate with the cold weathet months's, however, probably limits the popularity of bikes.

United States

We notice both bikes and trikes in the the United States during the late-19th century. A good example of an early trike is an unidentified boy in 1881. Many American children had bikes. I think this was primarily a factor of the greater affluence of American families. Bikes were less common transport for workers, in part because Henry Ford followed by other manufactuers built cars within the oproice range of the average woirker. Bikes were certainly items that were very popular with boys. Every boy wanted them. We believe that they were more common for boys, but especially after World War I, girls also had them. Styling seems to have been very similar in Europe and America. There are quite a number of bicycle and tricycle images loaded on HBC. Many of them are American images. I believe this reflects the general affluence of America and the fact that many children had bicycles and tricycles.

Europe


Belgium

Belgian children jave played with a range of vehicles such as trikes and scooters. Boys also had bikes, boys more than girls. Bikes were not just for children. Until after World War II, workers had bikes to get to work. Cars were not something that most workers could aford. We have seen images of the Dutch using bikes, we have seen less about Belgium before the War, but believe the same was true of Belgium. Before the War this was in part because workers could not afford cars. Since the post-War European economic miracle, beginning with the German economic miracle, European workers, at leat in the West, like American workers, could aford cars. The German Economiv Miracle helped ignite similar economic miracles in other Western European countries, including Belgium. Even with the economic sucess and prosperity, bikes have remained popular in Belgium--very popular. A recent American vicitor to Belgium was struk by the enormity of the cycling culture in the country. He writes, "Every day, in any type of weather, cyclists can be seen riding around town. They are young, old, pudgy, and thin, pedaling to work, the store, picking up laundry, or just leisurely riding along enjoying the freshness of a new day. In every picturesque small town in Belgium, red paths, or specific lanes for cyclists connect throughout the city. Every path is clearly marked, and the concrete smooth and maintained. Cyclists have their own traffic lights, and outside of every store or business a bike rack is conveniently located. Belgium is truly a commuting cyclists dream."

England

The Famous Five ( Enid Blyton) would not have been successful stories if they could not get out and about on their bikes.

France


Germany

We note quite a few photographs of German boys with bikes. Germany did not play a major role in the development of the buicycle, but bikes became very popular in Germany and several mnufacturers produced them. We note a few boys had bikes in the late-19th century. A good example is an unidentified German boy in 1888 with a penny-farthing bicycle. Bikes in the 19th century were not all that safe. Manufactirers by the 20th century were producing bikes that boys could safely operate, although somewht expensive for many families. Many workers used bikes for transport to work. Cars were beyond the price that workers could afford. After World war I it became more common for bots to have bikes, at least middle-class boys. We note a German father and son about 1905-10. We note Hitler Youth boys taking biking expeditions in the 1930s. We note some girls with bikes, but most of the images we have founds are boys riding them.

Netherlands

The Netherlands may be the European country where bikes are mkost popular. The flat terraine is a major positive.

Oceania


New Zealand

We notice large bnumbers of New Zealand boys going to school on bikes.

Image

The German image here is undated. A bicycle expert could probably date the image from the bicycles which look rather new. HBC at first estimated that the portrait was taken in the early 1920s. The portrait doesn't look like a war-time image. For one thing rubber was very scarce. I think bikes were a bit expensive for children. It would have be be very early in the 20s because of the cap and black long stovkings. Note the distinctive girl's bike. The HBC contributor writes, "It's possible that it could be post World War I portrait, but I've yet to see a cabinet card produced after the War, unless this is an elusive item." HBC contributor believes that this means that it would be a pre-War portrit, probably about 1910. Our reader also writes, "Once again, one wonders whether these were the childrens own bicycles or props in the photographers studio. In the original image (unedited) you can just make out where the photographer has altered the negative to remove evidence of supports."







HBC





Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to the Main bike activities page]
[Return to the Main outdoor play page]
[Introduction] [Activities] [Biographies] [Chronology] [Clothing styles] [Countries]
[Bibliographies] [Contributions] [FAQs] [Glossary] [Images] [Links] [Registration] [Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]



Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Sailor suits] [Sailor hats] [Buster Brown suits]
[Eton suits] [Rompers] [Tunics] [Smocks] [Pinafores]



Created: March 3, 2003
Last updated: 4:47 AM 5/5/2019