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Pre 1886 |  1886 |  1887 |  1888 |  1889 |  1893 |  1895 |  1910 |  1930 |  Mounting and Riding

Bayliss Thomas & Co. Coventry 'Excelsior'

Bayliss Thomas & Co. 'Excelsior'

 

Side view

 

'Excelsior' with V-shaped wheel rims

 

Spoke engineering

 

One-to-one gearing

 

Crank mechanism

 

Stand in normal mode

 

Stand used to invert bike

 

Stand used for bike repairs

 

'Excelsior' branding

 

Saddle

 

Mounting pegs and rudimentary brake mechanism

 

Mounting pegs and rudimentary brake mechanism

 

Pedals, spokes and hub

 

Red Universal CMC 'Club' circa. 1886

Was a training bike for a racing cyclist

 

Also recent World Champion's winning mount

 

Blade forks and brake mechanism

 

Pedals, cranks, hubs and spokes

 

Brake lever and sprung saddle

 

View showing height

 

Black CMC circa. 1886

Brake mechanism

 

CMC - Coventry Machine Company

 

CMC

 

Hub, cranks and pedals

 

Hub, cranks and pedals

 

Saddle linkages

 

Spoking

 

Rear wheel and mounting peg

 

Saddle and steering proximity

 

Saddle and steering proximity

 

Two CMC models

 

Adjustable crank lengths

 

Rear wheel with spokes set into hub flange

 

Fine engineering with twisted saddle springs

 

CMC

 

CMC

 

St. George's Engineering Company 'New Rapid' circa. 1887

'New Rapid'

 

'New Rapid'

 

Mounting peg

 

'New Rapid'

 

'New Rapid'

 

'New Rapid'

 

'New Rapid'

 

Crank assembly

 

Full-height view

 

View from beneath

 

Brown St. George's Engineering Company 'New Rapid' circa. 1888

Two bicycles

 

Pedals and spoking

 

Full-height view

 

Spoking pattern showing tying and soldering

 

Fork-end configuration

 

Rider's controls

 

Saddle, springs and bars

 

Black Humber Solid-Tyred Dwarf Safety Bicycle circa. 1889

Early Humber with equal wheel sizes

 

Large pitch chain

 

Fixed gearing (no freewheeling)

 

Brakes and 'cruising pegs'

 

Solid tyres, pre-pneumatic

 

Saddle softens harsh ride

 

Leather tool bag

 

Saddle and bars

 

Thanet Safety Bicycle circa. 1893 with geared front driver

Thanet Safety Bicycle

 

Thanet Safety Bicycle

 

Radially-spoked front wheel

 

Mounting peg

 

Leather seat

 

Hand-made rivetted saddle

 

Brake mechanism

 

Leather shoe on rod-activated brake

 

'Crypto' gear hub

 

'Crypto' gear hub

 

'Crypto' gear hub

 

'The Thanet' insignia

 

Early Green 'Pneumatic' circa. 1895 with Pattisson 'Hygienic' Saddle

Side view

 

Side view

 

Single-speed fixed gear

 

Pneumatic tyre

 

Brake lever and seat detail

 

Embossed leatherwork

 

Split design similar to modern saddles

 

Black 'Royal Rover' circa. 1910

Side view

 

Laid-back frame geometry

 

Frame showing dress guard

 

Rod brake mechanism

 

Wide pneumatic road tyres

 

Traditional construction materials

 

Frame welds

 

Headset, light bracket and brake rods

 

Headset, light bracket and brake rods

 

Rover head badge and brake rods

 

Rover head badge and brake rods

 

28" Pneumatic Bicycle with Top Tube Mounted Gear Changer

Pneumatic bicycle

 

Pneumatic bicycle

 

Belgian Ladies' Shaft-Driven 'FN' circa. 1930

Note absence of chainset, rear cogs and chain

 

Shaft-Driven 'FN'

 

Shaft-Driven 'FN'

 

Rod brake mechanism

 

Perished Brooks leather saddle

 

Shaft-Driven 'FN'

 

Mounting, Dismounting and Riding

Mounting: View 1

Stationary, straddling bicycle with foot on peg

Push off and stand up

Awareness of hazardous other road users

 

Mounting: View 2

Stationary, straddling bicycle with foot on peg

 

Push off

Stand up on peg

Throw leg over saddle

Locate feet on pedals

Traditional cycling apparel - wool

 

Mounting: View 3

Stationary, straddling bicycle with foot on peg

Push off, and stand on peg

Saddle bag pads 'spine' when mounting

Pedalling away

 

Dismounting

Move foot from pedal to mounting peg

Transfer weight to peg

Use non-standing foot as brake