'Cycling' pocket book 1899

[NickM]

An avarage was around £100 per year

Which makes that Gamage bicycle something like £3700 to the average earner of today

In 1899, I think it would be fair to say that cycling was still a decidedly middle-class activity - the sort of thing that might well be done by people who put "Ex libris" stamps in their books

 

[NickM]

I'm interested in reading about cycling in the halcyon days of yesteryear.

A very worthwhile thing to do. An excellent start would be "King of the Road", by Andrew Ritchie. Out of print, and not all that easily found, but there are a fair few copies on abebooks.

 

[Hilldodger]

And Jim McGurn's On Your Bicycle is a good read, too.

 

[Hilldodger]

Which makes that Gamage bicycle something like £3700 to the average earner of today

In 1899, I think it would be fair to say that cycling was still a decidedly middle-class activity - the sort of thing that might well be done by people who put "Ex libris" stamps in their books

It wasn't until the 20's that bicycles started to become affordable for the lower classes - mainly through secondhand ones at that.

 

[NickM]

So, Hilldodger - when would you place the Golden Age of cycling in Britain?

I'd suggest the years immediately following WW2, by which time most people who wanted one had a bike, and petrol rationing kept the roads free of 4-wheeled pests. Didn't last long, though...

And have you ever seen a copy of "A Canterbury Pilgrimage" by Joseph and Elizabeth Robbins Pennell? It's the nicest cycling book in my little collection, published in 1885 and charmingly illustrated. I'm glad I bought it when I did, because it's quite expensive now

 

[Hilldodger]

I'd say the 1930's because the bikes were better due to the availablity of materials and there was a lot more freedom for people.

The golden age for racing has to be the 1890's

And have you ever seen a copy of A Canterbury Pilgrimage by Joseph and Elizabeth Robbins Pennell? It's the nicest cycling book in my little collection, published in 1885 and charmingly illustrated. I'm glad I bought it when I did, because it's quite expensive now

I have a copy in my collection and agree, it is a charming book.

 

[Dayvo]

A very worthwhile thing to do. An excellent start would be "King of the Road", by Andrew Ritchie. Out of print, and not all that easily found, but there are a fair few copies on abebooks.

Thanks for the heads-up! I'll look into it.
And the one Hilldodger recommended, too.