Figure 1.--Here is a school-based bicycle rally competition organized by schools in Chorley Lancashire. One boy wears clogs in one of the photographs. Raincoats are also worn. Most of the boys wear caps. One boy wears a tie. This activity in the 1950s shows that many children had cycles and regularly rode them. Put the cursor on the image to see a second photograph.

We do not yet have much information on the vehicles like bicycles that English children played with. Images of early bicycles like the penny farthing were mostly rode by adults. This was not only because they were enpensive, they were also dangerous. The penny farthing bicycle was developed in the 1870s and used in the 1880s. It was rapidly replaced in the 1890s after the saftey bicycle appeared in 1892. While mostly made for adults, there were some made in small sizes for children. The Coventry Machinists company in England, one of many manufacturers, offered bicycles in their 1880 catalogue bicycles from 38 inches to 58 inches. Bicycle clubs were formed which competed with each other. The Clubs not only helped organized competition, but were sometimes needed for saftey reasons. Reports suggest that coach drivers would sometimes try to run over biycycleists who they thought were slowing them down. Clubs often adopted uniforms. Uniforms commonly included caps, tight fitting jackets and pants, normally knickers. The uniform here was a typical example (figure 1) Tne cap is a bit different. We have Pillbox caps were more common. We have not noted one quite like it. Notice the club badge on the collar. The jackets were cut somwhat like military tunics without laels and buttoned at the collar. Notice the cuaway front at the bottom of the jacket. The uniform almost always included knickers and kneesocks or long stockings. Trouser cuffs could become entangled in the wheel spokes. One observer thought the carte-de-visite portraithere showed a delivery or messenger boy in uniform. We do not believe that penny farthings were used that way. They were too expensive and unstable. What kinsd of item could be delivered on a penny farthing. It can be assumed that children pictured with 19th century bycycles were from affluent families. Actually bicycles did not become associated with children until quite late. Britain never had the fascination with cars as was the case in America. We note bikes being used by adults for convetances in Oxford and many other locations in Britain. Not a lot of children from working-class or moderate ncome families had bikes until after World War II.

Chronology

A number of early steps in Europe led tgoward the modedrn bicy, primarily in Germany and France. Ar the time this was a leading to a conveyanece for adult men. They came to be called velocipedes. The first British contrubution was pneumatic tires (1845). Earlier metal or solid rubber tires were used. It took some time for these pneumatic tires to become standard. The French 'boneshaker' was he first to begin to look like a modern bike. The name comes from the fact that thre were no smooth paved roads. It is at this tinme that Britain began to take the lead in bicycle development. Britain was Europe's wealthiest country thanks to its industry abd empire. These were surely major factors. It is at this time that the iconic Penny Farthing (two English coins) appeared (1870). Thbe front wheel had a 5 ft diameter. Only an adult could ride ot, and a skilled adult at that. The Penny Farthing solved some of the vibration problem, but was very difficult to ride. It was the first such cinvedynce ti be called a bicycle. It was not a huge consumer hit. Not only was it dufficult to ride, bit it was very expensive--even for the middle class. Sll kinds of important imprivements occurred (1870s). Here Britains increasingly sophjisticated steel industry was an important factor. The first rear-wheel-drive bicycle with a chain connecting the pedals to the rear wheel, was mass-produced in England (1880). This basic designed exploded the populsrity of bikes when John Kemp Starley began selling Rover bicycle with a very modern look (1885). This is when pneumatic tires really caught on. Dr. John Boyd Dunlop seized upon them as an aid to his ill and delicate son. Mass ptoduction began (1888). These improivements began to create mass appeal and orices began to fall to more reasonable limits, althoiugh they were stoill prices above the level tat the working-class could afford. A major sxtep was the safety bike (1892). It is at this time thst women slso bergan riding. One more small step in women's emancipation. Major sterps also occurred in America ehich because of the relative prpsperity, outpsced Europe un bucycle ownbership. It is no accipdent that the first sustanined flight occurred iun America by bicycke repair mnechanics. Mass oroduction was underway. We do not yet have much information on the vehicles like bicycles that English children played with. While mostly made for adults, there were some made in small sizes for children. The Coventry Machinists company in England, one of many manufacturers, offered bicycles in their 1880 catalogue bicycles from 38 inches to 58 inches. Bikes were quite expensive during the late-19th and early 20th century. Workers might be able to afford them to go to work, but only wealthy children had them. After the turn-of the 20tyh century, children's bij=kes were no longer a rarity. This began to change after Word War I, we see middle-class children wiuth bikes. After World War II we see wotking-class children with bikes as well. Althiugh Brutains failure to participate in the post-War ecoinomic miracles clowed this somewhat. Finslly the average child could expect to have a bike. Both boys and girls got them.

Clubs

Bicycle clubs were formed which competed with each other. The Clubs not only helped organized competition, but were sometimes needed for saftey reasons. Reports suggest that coach drivers would sometimes try to run over biycycleists who they thought were slowing them down. Clubs often adopted uniforms. Uniforms commonly included caps. This included peaked caps. We think pillbox caps were more common. The jackets were cut somwhat like military tunics without laels and buttoned at the collar. There were cuaways front at the bottom of the jacket. A similar cut was used for riding. The uniform almost always included knickers and kneesocks or long stockings. Trouser cuffs could become entangled in the wheel spokes.

Social Class

It can be assumed that children pictured with 19th century bycycles were from affluent families. Actually bicycles did not become associated with children until quite late. Britain never had the fascination with cars as was the case in America. We note bikes being used by adults for convetances in Oxford and many other locations in Britain. Not a lot of children from working-class or moderate income families had bikes until after World War II. Conditions in Britain were very difficult after the War, but incomes for average families did increase and bikes become increasingly common for children. We see a lot of children riding bikes for pleasure as well as going to school on bikes. This was probably most common for middle-class families, but rising family income brought bikes within the reach of working-class families as well.

Created: 8:48 PM 9/4/2004
Last updated: 6:08 AM 12/21/2020