The bicycle is everywhere, in every country and culture, and can be used for good and for evil, as you'll see. So, off we go on a quick bike trip around the world: Spain, France, Greece, Russia, Morocco, England, back to Spain and, finally, South Africa. Spain: No Bull Birmingham Daily Post, England, July 2, … Continue reading Around the World With Bicycle History: A King, Sultan, Bullfighter, Deadly Duel & the World’s Most Expensive Bike
The Story of Baby Bliss: The World’s Largest Cyclist
My last post was about Arthur Roadhouse, the boy who rode a bike despite having "no legs and but one arm," according to the 1895 article below. Here's the link. Today: Baby Bliss! Baby Bliss became a national sensation at an early age and remained in the spotlight – and in the newspapers – for … Continue reading The Story of Baby Bliss: The World’s Largest Cyclist
Arthur Roadhouse: The Boy With No Legs Who Rode Like the Wind
The paragraph above, from an August 22, 1895 story in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, Missouri, certainly got my attention. How about you? I had to find out more about a 508-pound bike rider, and the cyclist with one arm and no legs. How the heck did Arthur turn the pedals without legs? Could this story … Continue reading Arthur Roadhouse: The Boy With No Legs Who Rode Like the Wind
My Favorite Rides (#4): The Mont Sainte-Victoire Loop with Cezanne, Picasso & Zola
Mont Sainte-Victoire inspired the legendary artists Cezanne and Picasso, so it’s certainly good enough for me … to cycle around. And around. The Mont Ste-Victoire loop from Aix-en-Provence is one of my favorite rides. It’s a quiet, beautiful ride, with a few climbs, the chateau where Picasso lived and is buried, and a scenic damn/reservoir designed … Continue reading My Favorite Rides (#4): The Mont Sainte-Victoire Loop with Cezanne, Picasso & Zola
The Eiffel Tower Bicycle: The World’s First Tall Bike
Look! Up in the air, it’s a bird, it’s a plane … no, it’s Leon Lyon on his Eiffel Tower Bicycle. “Be careful Monsieur Lyon, don’t fall!” Let’s travel back to Paris, several months before the Great Bicycle Parade of 1894. The clever organizers of the parade decided to award prizes for the best-looking bike, … Continue reading The Eiffel Tower Bicycle: The World’s First Tall Bike
