Best history of bicycles reference?

[bpsmith]

I thought the film was poor tbh. Found it boring and didn't tell or show us anything we don't already know.

 

[GuyBoden]

The Coventry Swift 1880's.

(Not much has changed really.)

 

[GuyBoden]

There's an online book you can read/browse, about the History of Cycle Industry.

History of Cycle Industry

 

[GuyBoden]

 

[Widge]

Whhoa....now THAT'S a serious bice! Where can I gets me one of them?

(I am intrigued by the double epithet 'Military' AND 'Safety'!)

 

[raleighnut]

And they say Aero frames are a new idea, mind you I'd try a bit harder with one of them wheelsucking me.

 

[User32269]

Imagine Halfords assembling that for you on the CTW scheme?

 

[Starcell]

The rifle itself can be obtained for a couple hundred to almost a thousand dependant on condition
Many thanks for all your input guys!
Mitch.

 

[betty swollocks]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/On-your-Bicycle-Illustrated-Cycling/dp/1898457050

 

[Widge]

I bought the Penguin Book Of Cycling 2nd hand via Amazon and it has just turned up today!

What a fab book! Very retro, doosn't go beyond about 1975....but absolutely FULL of cyclo history and pictures! Love it!

It cost One Penny (plus £183.75 p&p)

(j/k)

Worth every penny.

Best
w

 

[Widge]

Yup....maybe it doesn't tell SOME of us anything we don't already know....but I was impressed and sucked in by his genuineness, intrigued by all the back ground info ; very interested to watch his bike-of-a-lifetime being built in real time and to see all the bespoke world class builders contributing to it...not to mention an entertaining snapshot of cycling history along the way. But maybe I am too easily entertained?

( 'Quote - 'i thought the film was poor tbh. Found it boring and didn't tell or show us anything we don't already know'.) - bpsmith

w

 

[DaveReading]

The Dancing Chain (History and Development of the Derailleur Bicycle) by Frank J Berto

Fantastic book. It concentrates mainly on the history of derailleurs, but it does go into some detail on different kinds of hub gears, and other exotic gearing systems like "retro direct" (pedal forwards for one gear, backwards for another) expanding chainwheels and so on.

PM me if you want a cut price copy, because due to an ordering blunder, I have two.

That's a truly scary book. I have a renewed respect for the fantastic bit of engineering that even a low-end RD/cassette combination represents.

 

[Dogtrousers]

And if the crossbar mounted rifle is too unweildy, yet you fear tramps

From @ carltonreid on twitter