“Each time history repeats itself, the price goes up.”
-anonymous
Today we have a fun Throwback Thursday (#tbt) post for you, and it’s a view into the cycling industry of 1896. Yes, that’s 118 years ago. That should qualify for #tbt in anyone’s book, right?
We unearthed some copies of the The Wheel and Cycling Trade Review, as seen below.
It’s amazing to see how many of the same hot trends today are referenced and discussed in this journal.
Some of our favorite highlights:
Gravel cycling was the norm, and is mentioned eight times: “From the springs right into town, we roll over a fine gravel cycle path…” (p. n262). A stranger mention: “The slender frame was racked as with uncontrollable emotion. Starting from his embrace, she half rose to her feet, clutched wildly at her throat, then sank grasping to the gravel at his feet.” (p. n723)
Bamboo frames were available and detailed (p. n81).
Cut-out saddles, cotton tires, and master link chains (p. n20) were popular.
Tubeless pneumatic tires: “This is a possible ‘tire of the future,’ the Fleuss tubeless tire. As will be seen, it is detachable and of the clincher variety, but requires no inner tube.” (p. n378)
Sealant: “CYCO: The instantaneous healer of punctures in pneumatic tires.” (p. 17)
The Newton Rubber Works ad is classic: “There are other good tires, but none are better than Straus Tires, and you all know it.” (p. n170)
A few interesting pages from the journal, thanks to digitizing by archive.org:
No tools! Master link chains from 1896.
CYCO Sealant in 1896: Sealing tires way before Stan’s.
One of the best tire ads we’ve ever seen.
For hustlers, there was “all kinds of money” to be earned in the cycling industry.Something else catch your eye? Drop a comment below.
