Posts Tagged “History”
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Webster’s bibliographic and event-based timelines are comprehensive in scope, covering virtually all topics, geographic locations and people. They do so from a linguistic point of view, and in the case of this book, the focus is on “Bicycle,” including when used in literature (e.g. all authors that might have Bicycle in their name). As such, this book represents the largest compilation of timeline events associated with Bicycle when it is used in proper noun form. Webster’s timelines cover bibliographic citations, patented inventions, as well as non-conventional and alternative meanings which capture ambiguities in usage. These furthermore cover all parts of speech (possessive, institutional usage, geographic usage) and contexts, including pop culture, the arts, social sciences (linguistics, history, geography, economics, sociology, political science), business, computer science, literature, law, medicine, psychology, mathematics, chemistry, physics, biology and other physical sciences. This “data dump” results in a comprehensive set of entries for a bibliographic and/or event-based timeline on the proper name Bicycle, since editorial decisions to include or exclude events is purely a linguistic process. The resulting entries are used under license or with permission, used under “fair use” conditions, used in agreement with the original authors, or are in the public domain.
Bicycle: Webster’s Timeline History, 1066 – 1997
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Posted by Blogmaster in Books (Bicycle History), tags: Bicycle, Bicycles, Derny, Ecospeed, History, Motor, Motorized, Revopower, Timeline, Vloso, Wheel
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For three weeks each July, millions of fans from around the world descend upon the French countryside to cheer on the “forats de la route,” or slaves of the road-the riders competing in the Tour de France. Covering over 2000 miles in 21 days, the cyclists make a grand circuit of the country, crossing over both the Alps and the Pyrenees mountains before racing to the finish line along the Champs Elyses in Paris. Now almost a century old, the legendary bicycle race-the world’s largest annual sporting event-has a rich and colorful past. Tour de France/Tour de Force offers a one-of-a-kind look back at the Tour’s history and its heroes. Arranged chronologically and illustrated with hundreds of wonderfully evocative photographs dating back to the Tour’s beginning in 1903, it documents the great victories and the harrowing disasters, the glory and the agony of this amazing competition. From the astounding stories of early cyclists who looped around France on rudimentary two-wheelers to contemporary chapters emphasizing the tactics and winning moves employed in recent races, the drama of the Tour comes to life in these pages. Featuring race results from 1903 all the way through to 1999, plus an introduction by three-time Tour winner Greg LeMond, and special sections on the evolution of the Tour de France bike and the controversial issue of performance-enhancing drugs, Tour de France/Tour de Force is the consummate guide to this truly extraordinary event in the world of sport.Amazon.com Review
When the Tour de France was first held, it was only six stages long. Each of those stages, however, was a grueling ultramarathon averaging 400 kilometers for a total Tour length of 2,400 kilometers. The largest margin of victory in the history of the Tour–2 hours, 48 minutes–comes from this race. From 1903 to 1999, Tour de France/Tour de Force covers the history of the world’s greatest cycling race in words and pictures. All the great riders are profiled: Lucien Petit-Breton, “King” Rene Vietto (who never won), Eddy “the Cannibal” Merckx, Bernard “the Badger” Hinault, Greg LeMond, Miguel Indurain, and of course, Lance Armstrong. Tour de Force also traces the event’s evolution; for example, Pyrenees climbs were added in 1910, ensuring that versatile riders would come to dominate.
Author James Startt shares stories of ingenuity (when Francois Faber’s chain broke in the last kilometer of the 1909 Tour, he simply ran his bike across the finish line), tragedy (Tom Simpson collapsing and dying on the climb up Mont Ventoux in 1967), and triumph (Lance Armstrong’s 1999 Tour victory). Lavishly illustrated, Tour de France/Tour de Force is essential reading for cyclists and cycling fans alike. –M. Stein
Tour de France/Tour de Force: A Visual History of the Worlds Greatest Bicycle Race
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Todayâs modern bicycles are a far cry from our earliest attempts at pedal power. In fact, what many regard as the birth of the bicycle had no pedals at all. It was more of a wooden hobby horse on wheels that the rider would straddle and push the machine along with his legs. While it had no pedals, it did at least have steering. It was known as the ârunning machineâ. Compared with todayâs range of bikes, it doesnât sound much fun really!
Later, another wooden beast would hit the fashionable cobblestone streets of Europe â the Boneshaker. The appropriately named Boneshaker had pedals, and was entirely made of wood, apart from the hard, metal wheels. Thankfully, for the well-to-do riding public of Europe, the Boneshaker would soon be superseded during the 1870s by the far more comfortable, but far more dangerous, Penny Farthing.
The Penny Farthing was easily distinguishable from all bicycles that came before it by its huge front wheel and small rear wheel. It also, for the first time, offered the relative comfort of hard rubber tires. The size of the front wheel was so large because the larger the wheel, the more efficient the pedalling. While this allowed the well-heeled to hurtle recklessly at speed about the streets, it was also the cause of many serious injuries. All that was needed was for a stick to jam in the front wheel or a dog to run across the bicycleâs path and the hapless rider would be propelled over the handlebars and onto the hard ground below, usually on his head. Helmets were not a necessary accessory in those days!
For the ladies of the day, riding a Penny Farthing would just not do, so an adult version of the tricycle was invented in order for proper ladies to enjoy the pleasures of riding through the parks and gardens without compromising their good reputations.
Later, the Safety Bicycle was introduced. This was a redesigned version of the Penny Farthing that placed the huge front wheel at the back of the bike and the small rear wheel in the front. This new design considerably reduced the risk of being flung over the handlebars like a rag doll and ending up with a severe concussion or permanent brain damage.
By the 1880s, the bicycle was going through further changes. The pneumatic tire, the use of ball bearings and the spring seat made riding a much more comfortable affair. It was during this time also that more practical designs incorporating two wheels of equal size were introduced, making riding a far safer and enjoyable experience. The bicycle was fast evolving into the modern machines we enjoy today.
It was during the later part of the 20th century however that the bicycle really started to develop. In 1963 for example, Schwinn introduced a radical new bike called the Sting-Ray. The Sting-Ray borrowed much of its design features from the easyrider motorcycles and included high-rise handlebars, a comfy banana seat and a stick-shift. The Schwinn Sting-Ray allowed its young riders to become far more adventurous in their riding and it wasnât long before wheelies, jumps and other tricks were being performed. The Schwinn Sting-Ray would soon lead to the development of the BMX and the rest, as they say, is history!
For more information, reviews and tips on mountain bikes, road bikes, folding bikes, BMX bikes and other bicycles, visit James Sanford’s website at BikingHeadz.com, the complete online buyers guide for bikes and bicycles.
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In this highly original history of the world’s most famous bicycle race, Christopher S. Thompson, mining previously neglected sources and writing with infectious enthusiasm for his subject, tells the compelling story of the Tour de France from its creation in 1903 to the present. Weaving the words of racers, politicians, Tour organizers, and a host of other commentators together with a wide-ranging analysis of the culture surrounding the event–including posters, songs, novels, films, and media coverage–Thompson links the history of the Tour to key moments and themes in French history. He argues persuasively that this hugely popular sporting event has been instrumental in French attempts to grapple with the great challenges they have confronted during their tumultuous twentieth century–from World Wars, political divisions, and class conflict to economic modernization, women’s emancipation, and threats to public health. Examining the enduring popularity of Tour racers, Thompson explores how their public images have changed over the past century. He concludes with a discussion of the longstanding practice of doping and considers the complex case of the seven-time champion Lance Armstrong.
The Tour de France: A Cultural History
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Traces the use of bicycles from their origins to the present day, with competitive racing and all-terrain bikes.
Pedal Power: The History of Bicycles
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