Figure 1.--The bike began as an expensive item for the well-to-do but we gradually see large numbers of American boys riding bikes. Here we see an unidentified boy, probably in the early-1930s, with his bike and dogs. Notice his flat cap and knickers.

Bicycles were an European invention. All the early bicycles and technical inovations came from Europe. Early bicycles were for adults, both because they were expensive and unsafe. Americans began to take an interest in bicycles after the Civil War. The bicycle became a very popular item and we see clubs organizing. These clubs became advocates for better roads (1880s). Also Americans began tinkering with building better bikes. Safety bikes appeared in the 1890s which opened the way for children's bikes. At first only wealthy children had them. With mass production methods and widening affluence, we gradually begin to see more and more children with bikes. 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 price range of the average worker. 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 images loaded on HBC. Many of them are American images. We believe this reflects the general affluence of America and the fact thast many children had bicycles.

Development

Bicycles were an European invention. All the early bicycles and technical inovations came from Europe. Pnly in the late 890s did americans become important in nike development. As bikes became more important, bike repair shops began to organize all over America. And bicycle mechanics began tinkering. Of course immediately the Wright Brothers come to mind and the first airplane--the Weight Flyer. But most bicycle mechanics tinkered with bicycles.

Usage

Early bicycles were for adults, both because they were expensive and unsafe. As better bikes appeared bikes began to become more popular. The affluent formed riding clubs. Workers used them to get to work. They were expensive, but if useful for getting to work, within the range of a factory worker. Henry Ford changed all of this, at least in America. Bikes became less common transport for workers when Ford's mass produced Model-T brought the automobile within the range of workers. This also helped bring down the price of manufacturing bicycles. As a result, after World War I, the bicycle became more of a children's item. Most snapshots of nicycles in America showed children riding this. This was not the case in Europe where bicycles continued to be widely used by adults.

Chronology

Americans began to take an interest in bicycles after the Civil War. The first nikes we note were called Penny Fathings, an English term based on the sizes of the two coins. These were bikes with different sized wheels. Er see studio portraits with bikes. We are unsure to what extent these were studio props or if the individuals involved were nikers. A strong clue is if the indidividual was wearing biking clothes. The bicycle became a very popular item and we see clubs organizing. These clubs became advocates for better roads (1880s). Also Americans began tinkering with building better bikes. Safety bikes appeared in the 1890s which opened the way for children's bikes. At first it was mostly wealthy children that had them, but by the 1910s we see affluent middle-class children with them as well. After World War I, bikes become increasingly common. We see more girls with bikes after the War as well. The photographic record shows large numbers of children with bikes.

Children

The development of better bikes like saftey bike meantthat children could use them. At first only wealthy children had them. With mass production methods and widening affluence, we gradually begin to see more and more children with bikes. Many American children had bikes. I think this was primarily a factor of the greater affluence of American families. Bikes were not as common for children in Europe, espcally working-class children. Bikes were certainly items that were very popular with boys. Every boy wanted them. Girls also liked them, but not with tthe same passion as with boys. we believe that they were most common for boys.

Styling

Styling seems to have been very similar in Europe and America. This seems to have changed after World war II. I recall in the 1950s that English racers were styled very differently than Schwin and other American bikes that my friends and I rode.

Country Trends

There are quite a number of bicycle images loaded on HBC. Many of them are American images. We believe this reflects the general affluence of America and the fact thast many children had bicycles.

Created: 8:26 PM 3/11/2009
Last updated: 1:35 AM 4/26/2014