History

The best and fastest way to look at the history of bicycles and their use is to look for established Bicycle Museums. I have found a few that do a good job with creating Web Sites to show what they have and what they have learned about them. I have listed them, one per picture, below. Just click on the picture to check out the Museums Web Site.

NEW ! If you like bicycling history, read "The Lost Cyclist" by David V. Herlihy. A wonderful story full of adventure and mystery in the late 1880's { ISBN 978-0-547-19557-5}

	The Metz Bicycle Museum has one on the most extensive collections of Antique Bicycles in the world. From the High Wheel Bicycles dating back to the late 1800's to "Children's Antique Riding Toys" this collection looks to be second to none. If you are going to New Jersey on vacation this year, a visit would be worthwhile but visits are by appointment only.
	Check out the 1816 Draissine and the 1896 Quintuplet at the Bicycle Museum of America along with the many other unusual bikes. Their site has a lot of history about the bike builders and the use of the bikes. Some of these bikes were built around 1892 and referred to in the book I mentioned above.
	If you want to see some of the old "Safety Bicycles" and "Bone Shakers", then check out "The Velocipede" in New Castle, Delaware. They have a really great collection and are only opened on Saturdays from 11-5 PM.

The Wheelmen is a national non-profit organization dedicated to keeping alive the heritage of American cycling, promoting the restoration and riding of early cycles and encouraging cycling as part of modern living. It's my understanding that they specializes in riding, giving demonstrations and talks, and parades, all in period costume.

Just for fun, can you tell me the name, year, and manufacture of the Bicycles pictured below. I will update these pictures as I get verifiable information.