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TRICYCLE DAYS 1881-1888

The Birth of Three-Wheeling and “Woman on a Tricycle”

In the era preceding the dominance of bicycles, tricycles were the wheels of choice for women seeking independent mobility. These three-wheelers came in various designs, some operated by a single rider and others designed for two riders, either seated side-by-side (“sociables”) or in a front-and-back configuration (“tandems”). In many cases the dual-riding models were operated by a man and woman, with the woman customarily seated in front on a tandem.

The mechanisms for steering and braking were diverse and not always foolproof. Wheel designs ranged from two large wheels at the back with one smaller wheel in front for steering, to configurations with one large wheel on one side and two smaller wheels on the other side for balance.

While some fashion modifications were recommended to permit women to engage in the physical task of pedaling or pumping treadles, long skirts still prevailed until the revolutionary shift to the bicycle ignited the necessity for dress reform. Early tricycles were heavy, often weighing 100 pounds or more, and posed cumbersome challenges to navigating through the traffic of horse-drawn carriages on rutted dirt roads.

The first 49 articles in this volume are presented chronologically from 1881 to 1888, the heyday of the tricycle for women before the transition to two-wheelers that is featured in a separate volume. The articles cover a spectrum of topics, including descriptions of various tricycle models, debates about the appropriateness of women embracing the wheel, discussions on proper riding form, disputes over what women should wear, and accounts of some of the early tricycle tours and adventures undertaken by women riders.

The roster of writers includes Mary Sargent Hopkins, who wrote under the pen name “Merrie Wheeler,” and Minna Caroline Smith, both of whom are contributors in several volumes of the Sports She Wrote series. One article by a male contributor is presented to establish the context for a response from a woman writer. His article is set aside in a box for clarity and marked with the male symbol (♂).

Following the chronology are five articles written by Amy Hurlston, published in Britain’s popular monthly bicycling journal The Wheel World, from November 1884 to June 1885. Hurlston’s entries adopt a diary format which may be infused with fictional elements. British spelling forms are Americanized in this collection.

The volume concludes with an obscure column entitled Woman on a Tricycle which was published in The Sunday Leader newspaper in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, from September 1886 to August 1887. It was penned by a local woman who does not reveal her identity. She revels in her anonymity which grants her unfiltered freedom to vent on many subjects unrelated to wheeling. Her focus and readership are regional, but her feisty opinionated observations lend insight to broader cultural issues.

While half of her 36 articles stray from the tricycle theme, they offer a glimpse into the personality of a 19th-century iconoclast unapologetically navigating societal norms with the rebellious spirit of a woman who rides a tricycle and doesn’t care what other people think of her doing so. These non-tricycle-related articles are denoted with a X symbol to set them apart for reference.

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BICYCLE DAYS 1888-1895

The Unsteady Transition from Trikes to Bikes

From 1888 to 1895 American cycling underwent a transformative journey from clunky three-wheel tricycles to the sleek and efficient two-wheel “safety” bicycles, marking a pivotal moment in the history of women’s cycling. The introduction of the safety bicycle, with its equal-sized wheels, replaced the cumbersome big-wheel “ordinary” bikes, making cycling more accessible to women and reshaping the social and cultural landscape.

The transition from sitting securely on three wheels to balancing precariously on two wheels was met with skepticism and intrigue. The novel concept of forward momentum and equilibrium presented challenges in conveying its simplicity, especially to those unfamiliar with the experience. Steering remained a mystery, and the restrictive nature of women’s skirts posed a significant obstacle to mounting a saddle and pedaling. This volume delves into various perspectives on this transformative period, shedding light on the challenges and triumphs associated with women’s cycling during this time.

Part 1 introduces ten articles by Grace E. Denison (1853-1914), a notable figure in the cycling community and one of the “Sweet Sixteen” founders of the Canadian Women’s Press Club. Published in Outing magazine from 1891 to 1893, Denison’s articles offer both descriptions of bicycle riding and a series chronicling her bike tour through Ireland in 1893. Known as “Lady Gay,” she provides a unique voice in capturing the essence of cycling during this era.

Part 2 focuses on Mary Sargent Hopkins (1847-1924), one of the most influential women bicyclists of the era. The first seven articles establish her identity, followed by 16 installments of her column “Winding Way,” published in The Bicycle World and L.A.W. Bulletin in 1893 and 1894, written under the penname “Merrie Wheeler.” Following her “Winding Ways” series, Hopkins contributed two cycling articles to the New England Kitchen Magazine in September and October 1894. Also included in the Hopkins section is an article about her written by Matilda Zita Dowd, containing numerous quotes from Hopkins. Despite her advocacy for bicycling, outdoor sports, physical education and other causes dear to the New Woman, she simultaneously held complex views on New Women and their fashions and behavior. She is mentioned in multiple other volumes of the Sports She Wrote series. Columnist Helen Bassett, whose penname was “Daisie” and is the subject of one volume of the Sports She Wrote series, refers to Hopkins as “The Duchess of Wellington” (Mary lived in Wellington, Massachusetts).

Part 3 presents 38 chronological articles written by more than two dozen women from 1888 to 1895, providing a diverse array of perspectives on a wide range of topics revealing the societal shifts and challenges women faced as they embraced cycling.

Part 4 features the seminal book on the subject of learning to ride a bike, How I Learned to Ride the Wheel, written by Frances E. Willard in 1895. A respected leader in the women’s rights movement, Willard’s book transcends technical guidance, offering a psychological and philosophical treatise on overcoming fear, challenging gender norms, and defying Victorian expectations. At 53 years of age, Willard’s journey to learn to ride inspired countless women to embrace the daunting two-wheeler, contributing to the widespread cycling craze of the mid-1890s. Her work remains a cornerstone in the exploration of women’s empowerment through cycling during this era. Text in bold font in the body of the articles is intended for quick reference and potential points of interest for modern readers and was not printed in bold font in the original articles.

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BICYCLE DAYS 1896-1900

Wheeling Into a New Century

In the waning years of the 19th century, the once-booming fad of bicycling reached its zenith in 1896, marking a turning point in its cultural significance. The fervor that had characterized the cycling craze began to subside, giving way to a more pragmatic view of bicycles as essential tools for transportation, sources of physical exercise, and instruments of leisure.

While the debates surrounding proper cycling attire, rules of the road, racing, endurance exhibitions, and the ongoing discourse on drop-frame versus diamond-frame bicycles persisted, a noticeable shift toward practicality emerged.

This volume commences with a collection of 18 articles and letters of correspondence published in 1897 in the weekly bicycle journal The L. A. W. Bulletin and Good Roads. Authored by more than 30 individuals, several contributors opted for anonymity, identifying themselves solely by their League of American Wheelmen (L.A.W.) membership numbers. Though their gender remained unspecified, the content of their letters primarily addressed issues pertinent to women cyclists. Replies from male correspondents are distinctly demarcated within boxes, accompanied by the male symbol (♂), underscoring the ongoing dialogue surrounding women’s involvement in cycling.

Continuing chronologically, the subsequent section unveils a diverse compilation of 30 articles and 38 illustrations drawn from 19 periodicals spanning the years 1897 to 1900. The final cycling article in this section is a forward-looking piece from The Girl’s Own Paper in August 1900 highlighting “fancy riding,” better known as “trick riding,” which remains a popular cycling diversion to this day.

Mary Sargent Hopkins, a regular contributor in several volumes of the Sports She Wrote series, contributes an article about “The Horseless Carriage,” in Frank Leslie’s Popular Monthly in 1899. Through seven accompanying photographs, the piece offers a glimpse into the nascent world of automobiles, signaling a transition in transportation preferences. As bicycling’s novelty waned, the horseless carriage emerged, setting the stage for a transformative shift in the landscape of personal mobility.

The volume ends with the book Bicycling For Ladies written by Maria E. Ward, published in 1896. This comprehensive guide encapsulates the prevailing sentiments and accomplishments in the world of cycling during its heyday. Ward covers an array of topics relevant to cyclists, from essential guidance for beginners and sartorial considerations to insights on proper cycling form, mechanical intricacies, and physical endurance. The inclusion of 34 accompanying photographs serves as a visual testament to the vibrancy and diversity of the cycling culture of the time. As the 19th century drew to a close, the fervor surrounding cycling abated, yielding to a more subdued, yet enduring, appreciation for bicycles as practical tools and sources of recreation.

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BICYCLING IN 1896

The Peak Year of the Bicycle Craze in America

This volume features 119 articles and 72 illustrations published during the peak of the bicycling craze in the United States in 1896. Bikes were commonly used by women for practical transportation, exercise, pleasure, touring, racing, endurance, and most influentially, became a fad of high society women, stamping the social seal of approval on wheeling. This acceptance led to advancements in bicycle technology specifically for women, better roads for all cyclists, and to a revolution in women’s apparel.

The subject of what women could wear and should wear when riding a bike became paramount and merited more discussion than any other aspect of women awheel. The fashionistas debated over divided skirts, knickerbockers and bloomers as the proper attire, and opinion pieces were neither polite nor subtle in their judgements. Despite their practical advantages, bloomers were called “ugly,” knickerbockers “mannish,” and divided skirts “dangerous.”

One of the most prominent advocates of cycling was Mary Sargent Hopkins, a prolific writer who often used the pseudonym “Merrie Wheeler.” Her “Out-of-Doors” column in The Ladies’ World monthly magazine covered a variety of sports but focused primarily on bicycling. Unlike many women authors who wished to remain anonymous, Mrs. Hopkins edited this column under her own name and included submissions from other well-known contributors. Many of Mary’s articles appear in several Sports She Wrote volumes. In 1896 she instituted a monthly magazine called The Wheelwoman which remained in publication for a little more than one year. Unfortunately, other than a few isolated covers and articles reprinted in other periodicals, copies of The Wheelwoman have not been found and are therefore not included in this volume.

A periodical with a similar name, The Wheelwoman and Society Cycling News, was published in England, and fortunately copies have been preserved for the historical record. Several articles from this latter publication are included in this volume, including 18 articles spanning from May to September 1896, in a column entitled “Wheelwomen Abroad,” focusing on cycling in America (specifically New York City) written by Olivia Howard Dunbar.

Other bicycling journals were popular and more enduring, and some sporadically featured women’s columns and articles by women. This volume includes ten articles from a column entitled For the Ladies published in The L. A. W. Bulletin & Good Roads from February to April 1896. The author is Ida Trafford Bell (1861-1905), who also penned other articles in the Sports She Wrote volumes and participated in various tours on tricycles and bicycles. (L. A. W. is the League of American Wheelmen, the most prominent organization of cyclists in the country with tens of thousands of members, and a powerful lobby for the improvement of roads.)

The March 14, 1896 issue of Harper’s Bazar (“Bazar” became “Bazaar” in 1930) was named the “Bicycling Number,” featuring six articles and 32 illustrations. The longest and most detailed piece was “The Making of a Woman’s Bicycle” written by Mary L. Bisland, who described the factory manufacturing process of the Pope Manufacturing Company, and how they transformed blocks of metal and globs of rubber into the fine-tuned machines considered the best and most beautiful bicycles on American roads.

The role of the bicycle in the corruption of women’s morals became a major topic ignited by a conservative firebrand, Charlotte Smith, who argued that the freedom and independence afforded by the bicycle was destroying the moral fabric of womanhood. For the first time in history women were able to freely roam miles from home without a chaperone and enjoy mixed company in remote locations. Smith was a provocateur who spouted controversial opinions that garnered publicity, inspired public outrage, and would have been right at home today as a social media troll. Nonetheless, her viewpoint opposing women’s bicycle riding based on its use for immoral purposes garnered the attention she craved and inspired heated responses from men and women. Eighteen articles on the subject are included in this collection.

After 1896 the “fad” novelty aspect of bicycling began to wane, soon to be replaced by the horseless carriage, the automobile. Cycling remained popular and practical, as it has been ever since, but not to the level it attained in 1896 when it was the centerpiece of social activity.

This volume also includes five articles published in The Wheel and Cycling Trade Review regarding one of the earliest tours by American bike racers in Europe. The race reports were written by Mrs. Eck, the wife of the trainer and former racer Tom Eck. Americans did not fare well in these races reported from Germany, Italy and England.

The volume concludes with four works of bicycling fiction published in Godey’s Magazine, The Ladies’ World, and English Illustrated Magazine. Articles and responses written by men are presented in boxes and denoted with the male symbol (♂) to set them apart from the women’s articles. Text in bold font in the body of the articles is inserted for quick reference and potential points of interest for modern readers and was not printed in bold font in the original articles.

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BIKE JOURNAL CORRESPONDENTS

Social Media Mashups in the Printed Press 1888-1894

Entering the final decade of the 19th century, America witnessed a significant evolution in cycling culture marked by the shift from three-wheel tricycles to the more revolutionary two-wheel bicycles. This transformative period was driven by the introduction of the “safety” bicycle, distinguished by its two wheels of equal size, a departure from the unwieldy big-wheel “ordinary” bike that soon became a historical relic.

The concept of balancing on two wheels presented a daunting challenge for those unfamiliar with the forward momentum and equilibrium required for this new mode of transportation. Steering, too, was a mystery, and the prevalent fashion of women’s long skirts added an additional obstacle to mastering the art of cycling.

This volume delves into the heart of this cycling metamorphosis, presenting 174 articles from two prominent American bicycle journals of the time: The Bicycling World & L.A.W. Bulletin (founded in 1878 in Boston) and The Wheel and Cycling Trade Review (founded in 1888 in New York).

From 1888 to 1894, these two rival journals were at the forefront of the cycling craze, with many of the articles taking the form of correspondence from regular contributors who engaged in lively discussions and debates with their competitors—the 19th-century version of social media trolling.

Among the contributors, several used pseudonyms, making gender identification uncertain. This volume exclusively includes those correspondents who were revealed to be women, bringing their unique perspectives to the forefront. The discussions cover an array of topics, ranging from what to ride, what to wear, where to go, how to improve roads, and dealing with critics.

The primary contributors are Psyche (29 articles), Caviler (8), M. (5), Pony (3), and Pioneer (3). Marguerite (12 articles) was Margaret Kirkwood, a young rider who is also prominent in other volumes. Some respondents used their L.A.W. (League of American Wheelmen) identification numbers in lieu of their names. Selected comments by male correspondents are included as they specifically respond or relate to articles by women and are denoted with the male symbol (♂).

Writers using their real names include Helen Grey (20), Lillias Campbell Davidson (6), Violet Lorne (5), and others listed in the Table of Contents.

Helen Grey (later known as Helen Grey-Page) was an author whose articles are published in several periodicals and other volumes of the Sports She Wrote series. Following her initial piece in 1889, she was granted a regular column in The Bicycling World & L.A.W. Bulletin entitled “Ladies Reception Room” in 1889 and 1890. As writers from The Wheel and Cycling Trade Review commonly criticized Helen Grey’s column, the rival publication’s articles are interspersed chronologically. Other writers later wrote the “Ladies Reception Room” column, including Psyche, whose previous articles were published in The Bicycling World & L.A.W. Bulletin before switching to the competition.

The discussions extended beyond the technical aspects of cycling to address a crucial dilemma: what should women wear while riding a bicycle? This seemingly trivial matter was central to women’s ability to navigate the challenges of mounting and pedaling a two-wheeler.

The first design adaptation for women was the “drop-frame,” later colloquially known as a “girl’s bike,” in which the horizontal bar connecting the seat post with the steering column was eliminated to accommodate women’s skirts. The conventional “diamond-frame,” so-named based upon the triangular form of the main frame when viewed in profile with the horizontal bar, was sturdier and more stable, requiring less structural weight. To compensate the “drop-frame” was constructed with heavier gauge metal so a woman’s bike often weighed ten pounds more than a man’s model. Bicycle design is a prominent feature in several articles, reflecting the broader societal shifts in women’s roles and expectations during this era.

As women embraced the art of riding in motion, they grappled with the complexities of mounting and dismounting, further complicated by the prevailing fashions of the time. This spurred the dress reform movement and the adoption of women wearing bloomers and knickerbockers, which became a major controversy described in several volumes.

The evolution of women’s cycling during this period encapsulates not only the technical advancements in bicycle design but also the broader societal changes and challenges faced by women as they sought to break free from traditional constraints and embrace the newfound freedom and independence offered by the bicycle.

The timeline of bicycle journals is interwoven with the League of American Wheelmen (L.A.W.), the largest and most influential cycling organization of the 1880s and 1890s. A brief summary of the League’s official publications follows:

In May 1880, The Bicycling World (published in Boston) was named the official organ of the L.A.W. Three years later, in May 1883, The Wheel (published in New York) became the official organ of the L.A.W. In March 1888, The Bicycling World (Boston) again became the official organ. On March 9, 1894, The Bicycling World announced the termination of its contract with the L.A.W. As a result, The Bicycling World was no longer included in the price of joining the League but continued as an independent newspaper requiring a separate subscription. The inaugural paid subscription circulation was 9,174. The March 9 masthead listed four names: the manager, two editors, and the “Women’s Department Conducted by Mrs. Mary Sargent Hopkins.” The next issue of The Bicycling World available on microfilm, dated April 13, 1894, includes the same manager and two editors, but not a woman’s department nor Mrs. Hopkins. The May 4, 1894 issue of The Bicycling World announced that the Boston publication Good Roads would become the new official organ of the L.A.W. This was the final issue of The Bicycling World available on microfilm. The monthly journal Good Roads began publication in January 1892. The March 1895 issue announced it would discontinue in its present form and would become The L.A.W. Bulletin and Good Roads commencing April 5, 1895.

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“DAISIE” HELEN BASSETT

Pioneer Cycling Columnist “From a Feminine Point of View” 1885-1888

America’s first prominent woman cycling columnist wrote under the pseudonym “Daisie,” whose real identity was not publicized although many people knew she was Helen Drew Bassett of Boston. Her husband was Abbot Bassett, the secretary of the League of American Wheelmen (L.A.W.) and the editor of its primary journal publications. He remained the secretary of the League for 35 years, chairman of its racing board, and was one of the most influential members of the L.A.W. until his death in 1924. (When “Daisie” refers to “Mr. Editor,” she is speaking to her husband.)

Daisie was born Helen Eudora Drew, December 5, 1846, in Chelsea, Massachusetts, and lived 96 years until May 2, 1943. She married Abbot in 1873 and they had two daughters, born in 1877 and 1885, both of whom lived into their nineties.

Her column, From A Feminine Point of View, lasted from May 1885 until February 1888, spanning three publications as the cycling journal publishing world underwent name and ownership changes: The Bicycling World from May 1885 to February 1886 (29 articles); The Cycle from April 1885 to January 1887 (33 articles); and The L.A.W. Bulletin from April 1887 to February 1888 (8 articles).

Daisie was a staunch defender of the three-wheeler for women, not coming to terms with the advantages and inevitability of the two-wheeler until her final column in 1888. She was a central figure in the first women’s tricycle tours in New England and an organizer of women’s participation in bicycle expeditions over several years.

This volume includes not only Daisie’s articles, but related correspondences and replies to her column, from both men and women. The replies and comments by men are denoted with the masculine symbol (♂).

Daisie voiced strong opinions about all aspects of cycling, from the machinery to etiquette, proper form, appropriate dress, and other matters that often set her at odds with her readers. She also welcomed reports from women regarding their cycling accomplishments and mileage, dozens of which are published in these accounts. To her credit, Daisie appreciated new information and opposing opinions and was open-minded about suggestions and corrections.

Daisie’s compatriots include women whose articles are prominent in other volumes of the Sports She Wrote series, including Mary Sargent Hopkins (aka “Merrie Wheeler”), Minna Caroline Smith (aka “Minimum”), Ida Trafford Bell, Violet Lorne, and the young long-distance cycling phenom Marguerite Kirkland.

Daisie also tried her hand at writing a fictional novelette set in a tricycling milieu, published September 10, 1886 on the front page of  The Cycle. Violet Lorne was particularly critical of Daisie’s story, recommending that she forego fiction and stick to writing her column.

The volume ends with an article by “Daisie” published in Outing magazine in December 1888, “The Ladies’ Eastern Tricycle Tour from the Merrimac to Naumkeag.” In this volume antiquated contractions have been altered to fit modern style. The original contractions contained spaces which have been removed, (e.g., I ’ve, I ’m, do n’t, is n’t, we ’re, there ’s, we ’ll, I ’ll, are n’t etc.). The photograph of Helen and Abbott is courtesy of the Bassett Family Association.

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ELIZABETH PENNELL AWHEEL

The Cycling Adventures of a Renowned Travel Writer

This volume presents seven published works by American writer Elizabeth Robins Pennell (1855-1936), an avid cyclist and prolific author. A trailblazer of her time, Elizabeth not only left an indelible mark on the literary world but also pedaled her way through Europe, chronicling her cycling adventures alongside her artist husband, Joseph Pennell.

In 1884 the Pennells accepted a travel writing commission from The Century Magazine and moved from Philadelphia to London, England. Together they embarked on a cycling odyssey, traversing the landscapes of Britain and Europe on tandem tricycles and later transitioning to bicycles. Their collaborative efforts resulted in an array of books and articles, with Elizabeth providing the prose while Joseph adorned their narratives with detailed illustrations.

Their first cycling book was A Canterbury Pilgrimage, an homage to Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. published in 1885 describing their tour from London to Canterbury. Six of Joseph’s drawings are included in the text.

Two years later they published Two Pilgrims’ Progress, (published in Boston; the version published in London is entitled An Italian Pilgrimage), a more ambitious work and a longer ride in Italy from Florence to Rome. The book presented in this volume includes a poetic introduction by Charles G. Leland (her uncle) and 18 drawings by Joseph. Their tour ended abruptly when they unwittingly rode illegally and were forced to pay a fine to the government and sell their tricycle. Tacked onto the end of this book after their pilgrimage ended are two chapters describing their non-cycling vacation in Rome, of which only a brief transition paragraph is included in this volume as it relates to the termination of their cycling adventure.

Elizabeth’s 1890 essay, “Cycling,” published in St. Nicholas Magazine, transcends a mere travelogue. It serves as an informative guide on tricycle riding, especially tailored for women, accompanied by five drawings from Joseph. In 1892 Elizabeth weighed in on the growing debate on what a woman should wear while cycling. Her article “At Last, The Ladies’ Perfect Cycling Costume,” was printed in the journal The Wheel and Cycling Trade Review.

In 1893 Elizabeth and Joseph produced their most ambitious tandem tricycle tour book, Our Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy. The route retraced the journey of author Laurence Sterne who wrote a popular novel by the same title in 1765 that established travel writing as a popular genre. Elizabeth refers to Sterne throughout the book, and like his original novel, deliberately ends her book dangling mid-sentence.

In 1894 Elizabeth’s chapter “Cycling” was published in the book Ladies in the Field—Sketches of Sport, edited by Lady Beatrice Violet Greville.” She describes the evolution and her transition from riding a three-wheel tricycle to the two-wheel bicycle, which was called a “safety,” and touts the many advantages of the latter vehicle. She was writing to women, particularly beginners, explaining how to mount, balance, steer, pedal, travel, repair and dress while on the new contraption. She was a strong advocate of cycling for health and as a means of independent travel.

The Pennells’ final entry in this volume is Over the Alps on a Bicycle, published in 1898. Eighteen drawings by Joseph and their detailed route are included in this volume.

The Pennells lived in London for more than thirty years before returning to the United States. During that time their home became a literary and artistic salon that attracted many renowned authors and artists of the time.

The subject of cycling represents just a sliver of Elizabeth Pennell’s copious published works. She wrote biographies of Mary Wollstonecraft for the Famous Women book series, and her friend artist James McNeill Whistler, among others. Her main work was as an art and food critic, topics which are prominent in her tour books. She was a regular columnist in England’s Pall Mall Gazette, and her articles appeared in dozens of periodicals.

While touring through Italy Elizabeth also made note of the many regional sports and games she witnessed, and penned the article “Sports at the Carnival,” which was published in the March 1887 issue of Outing magazine and is included in the Adventure Seekers volume of the Sports She Wrote series. This collection not only reveals the landscapes of Europe but also provides profound insights into the evolving role of women in cycling during the late 19th century. Elizabeth Robins Pennell’s writings stand as both literary gems and historical artifacts, shedding light on an era when cycling was not just a mode of transportation but a symbol of independence and adventure.

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AMBITIOUS BICYCLE TOURS

Long-Distance Cycling in the United States, Europe & Africa

The bicycle, a revolutionary mode of transportation in the late 19th century, brought about newfound freedom of independent travel for individuals who couldn’t afford the upkeep of a horse. This unprecedented mobility sparked a social movement to enhance road infrastructure, a development that proved invaluable with the advent of automobiles.

Bicycling transcended mere transportation—it became a means of exploration and adventure. The burgeoning popularity of bicycle touring offered enthusiasts an active and flexible vacation option, enabling them to traverse areas not serviced by railroads, off the beaten path, free from the constraints of mass transit schedules.

This volume presents a blend of travelogue and cycling expertise, conveying the essence of bicycle touring in the late 1800s, as the women writers and riders experienced them. These narratives not only delve into the intricacies of cycling but also provide vivid depictions of the diverse cultures encountered along the way. The routes they traveled often served as the pioneering guidebooks for fellow cyclists eager to follow the paths laid out by their adventurous predecessors.

The initial section of this volume features eight articles and ten illustrations describing cycling tours in the United States and England from 1896 to 1898. Among them, the remarkable account of a lone woman cyclist, Margaret Valentine Le Long, on her solo journey from Chicago to San Francisco.

The remainder of the volume introduces the literary contributions of the pioneering American couple, Fanny Bullock Workman and William Hunter Workman. Fanny, an advocate of women’s rights and suffrage, considered herself a New Woman—a term emblematic of the era’s evolving feminist ideals.

The couple’s collaborative efforts yielded two books included in this collection: Algerian Memories (1895) describes their ride through North Africa, and Sketches Awheel in Modern Iberia (1897) depicts their tour in Spain. Fanny was also an accomplished photographer, and the 50 images in these two books offer readers a visual as well as narrative journey through their cycling adventures.

Beyond their cycling pursuits, the Workmans were trailblazing mountaineers, as detailed in Fanny’s account, In the Ice World of Himalaya (1900), which is featured in the Mountaineering volume of the Sports She Wrote series. Fanny’s writings and photographs, rich in imagery, not only showcase the landscapes but also portray the native people encountered during their travels. This volume depicts an era in which the bicycle opened up avenues of exploration and adventure for men and women, transcending its utilitarian role. The narratives within these pages not only celebrate the art of cycling but also offer a glimpse into the cultural landscapes traversed by these intrepid cyclists, leaving an indelible mark on the history of women’s cycling in America during the late 19th century.

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FICTION ON WHEELS 1882-1885

Stories Written by Five Women Authors

This volume in the Sports She Wrote series features an anthology of fictional literary works by pioneering women authors who, between 1882 and 1885, skillfully intertwined the burgeoning popularity of cycling into their narratives. As tricycles and bicycles became more common during the 1880s, they were used as a device in stories that were not focused on the act of wheeling or the machines of locomotion, but as a prop for one or more of the primary characters woven into the storyline.

Cycling enthusiasts seeking detailed descriptions of cycling are forewarned that these stories do not impart wisdom on wheeling itself, however they provide illuminating insight into traits assigned to fictional characters who engaged in cycling as a catalyst for exploration, self-discovery, and personal freedom.

These tales often include typical Victorian-era love stories in which the characters interact in a repressed manner almost unimaginable today. The wheeling element infuses a sense of spunky independence into some female protagonists while others conform to the helpless damsel in need of heroic male intervention.

The writers of two of the stories in this volume became mainstream authors of many articles and books.

M. H. Catherwood’s, Castle Trundle, was published in three parts, November and December 1883, and January 1884 (11,600 words). She was a widely known and highly respected author in the late 19th century, considered one of the first novelists to write popular romantic historical novels.

Born Mary Hartwell in Ohio in 1847, Catherwood was orphaned at age 10, obtained a teacher’s certificate at age 13 and began publishing poetry and short stories as a teenager. By her twenties she had published a novel and was writing articles for several magazines. In 1877 she married James Steele Catherwood. Her poems and stories were published in The Atlantic Monthly, Harper’s Magazine, Lippincott’s Magazine, and other periodicals. Many of her stories were set in the Midwest, including Castle Trundle which takes place in Indiana. She wrote at least eighteen books, including several well-researched historical novels, before her death in 1902.

Minna Caroline Smith (1860-1929), wrote her earliest short stories and several articles under the pseudonym “Minimum.” Born in California in 1860, she was in her early twenties when her two stories in this volume were published in The Wheelman in 1882 and 1883.

In January 1884, The Wheelman was renamed Outing and The Wheelman, and later became Outing, a monthly sports magazine that endured until 1923. Minna Caroline Smith was a staff writer on the publication in the 1880s, contributing several nonfiction articles about cycling and other sports, several of which are contained in other volumes of the Sports She Wrote series.

Minna was an avid cyclist who organized the first women’s tricycle tour in the United States in 1885. Her role is described in the volume of articles written by “Daisie” (Helen Bassett), who often referred to Minna by her real name as well as her penname, “Minimum.” Helen Bassett’s revelation exposed Minna as the woman behind the penname, which was not disclosed in The Wheelman or Outing.

Minna’s first story in this volume was published in November 1882, I Wait for My Story (3,620 words). Her second story is A Flying Dutchman (27,400 words), published in 6 monthly installments from December 1882 to May 1883.

Minna later wrote several books of fiction, nonfiction, historical and juvenile literature, including: Our Own Country (1896); Gold Stories of ’49 (1896) Mary Paget, A Romance of Old Bermuda (1900); Red Top Ranch, A Story of Ranch Life in Wyoming (1907); and The Mystical Story of Saint Jeanne d’Arc (1922).

Minna also translated several classic books originally published in Spanish, including: Saragossa, a Story of Spanish Valor,by Benito Pérez Galdós; Trilby: The Fairy of Argyle (1895) by Charles Nodier; and The Joy of Captain Ribot (1900), by Armando Palacio Valdés. A silent film, Rose of the Golden West, was based on her romantic novel of the same name, starring Mary Astor and Golbert Roland, directed by George Fitzmaurice, released in 1927.

The third short-story author in this volume is Belle Campbell, published in The Wheelman in March 1883 (6,790 words). A New Ixion; or, The Man on the Wheel, is a love story with a chase scene between a bicycle and a horse, each piloted by contenders for a woman’s affections.

The centerpiece of this volume is the 1884 novel Wheels and Whims authored by Florine Thayer McCray and Esther Louise Smith (69,500 words and 20 illustrations). The story centers on a tricycle tour made by four young women along the Connecticut River from New Hampshire to Long Island Sound. Many of the events and encounters are not directly related to the act of tricycling but are only encountered as a result of this unique cycling tour.

The story is a simple 19th century tale of sisterhood and romance. Its inclusion in this anthology is based on its relationship to the spirit of women who would embark on a tricycling tour without male chaperones. While there is some interesting tricycle-related information and public reactions to the sight of pioneering women riding tricycles, this work should not be approached as an athletic analysis of cycling.

The novel includes wide-ranging discussions of women’s rights, the institution of marriage, the role of religion, a visit to a mental hospital, encounters with men (both good and bad), a love story, the use of a pistol to fend off attackers, and the contention that charitable organizations unintentionally coddle the poor with financial aid and philanthropy.

Among the most typical tropes from cycling literature are wheels racing against a horse; romance kindled on the road; the allure of fresh air and improved health; hearty appetites, and freedom of independent travel; gawking stares and criticism from strangers shocked at the sight of women awheel in their daring riding costumes.

Author Florine Thayer McCray also wrote Environment: A Story of Modern Society (1887) and The Life-Work of the Author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, The Life and Work of Harriet Beacher Stowe (1889), both published by Funk & Wagnalls.

Advisory: Wheels and Whims contains one racial epithet used by a “colored servant” referring to himself by the n-word.

This volume is a testament to the creative spirit of pioneering women authors, revealing a bygone era where the wheels of progress were not just a mode of transportation but a catalyst for transformative storytelling.

Nine volumes in the Sports She Wrote series are devoted to cycling:

1. Tricycle Days 1881-1885
2. Bicycle Days 1888-1895
3. Bicycle Days 1896-1900
4. Bicycling in 1896
5. Ambitious Bicycle Tours
6. Fiction on Wheels
7. Bike Journal Correspondents
8. “Daisie” Helen Bassett
9. Elizabeth Pennell Awheel

In addition, portions of three volumes include significant bicycle reports: two by columnists, Adelia Brainerd: The Outdoor Woman of Harper’s Bazar, and Diana’s Outdoor Sports; and the sports fashion volume What to Wear.

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