The Cycle Industry

By W. F. Grew192120 chapters45 images

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Contents

• Early History and Origin of the Bicycle (opens in a new tab)

  Traces the bicycle's origins from the 1868 Coventry velocipede through the evolution of the high-wheel ordinary.
• The Tricycle Era (opens in a new tab)

  Describes how the tricycle emerged to address the dangers of the high bicycle and its subsequent decline.
• Tandem Bicycles (opens in a new tab)

  Examines the tandem bicycle's appeal and mechanics despite its limited popularity compared to single machines.
• Materials (opens in a new tab)

  Reviews the challenges early manufacturers faced sourcing and developing suitable steels, tubes, and components.
• From the Stores to the Railway Dray (opens in a new tab)

  Traces the manufacturing process from raw materials through each production stage to finished bicycle delivery.
• Production Methods (opens in a new tab)

  Compares the diverse factory approaches used by different cycle manufacturers to produce complete machines.
• The Pneumatic and Other Tyres (opens in a new tab)

  Chronicles the pneumatic tyre's invention by Dunlop and how it transformed the entire cycle industry.
• Change Speed Gears (opens in a new tab)

  Surveys the development of variable gearing systems and their contribution to popularising cycle touring.
• Spring Frames (opens in a new tab)

  Reviews attempts to spring bicycle frames for rider comfort before and after the advent of pneumatic tyres.
• The Trade and Racing (opens in a new tab)

  Explores how racing successes shaped manufacturers' reputations and drove commercial competition.
• The Cycle Boom (opens in a new tab)

  Examines the 1890s boom in cycle manufacturing, its speculative excesses, and its lasting impact on the trade.
• Roads in Great Britain (opens in a new tab)

  Assesses the state of British roads and the cycling movement's campaign for better road surfaces.
• The Weight Question (opens in a new tab)

  Debates the significance of machine weight and the engineering compromises between lightness and durability.
• The Bicycle on the Continent (opens in a new tab)

  Compares British and Continental cycle designs and describes the European market for British machines.
• Military and Other Service Bicycles (opens in a new tab)

  Describes the deployment of bicycles by military forces and other specialist uses in wartime service.
• In the Factory (opens in a new tab)

  Provides a detailed tour of a cycle factory, from frame building and machining through to finishing and assembly.
• Accessories (opens in a new tab)

  Catalogues the wide range of lamps, bags, bells, and other accessories supplied with or alongside bicycles.
• Pioneer Rides (opens in a new tab)

  Celebrates long-distance record journeys that demonstrated the bicycle's endurance and advertised the industry.
• The Motor Cycle (opens in a new tab)

  Traces the motor cycle's development from motorised bicycles and tricycles to the modern petrol-engine machine.
• The Future of the Industry (opens in a new tab)

  Speculates on the cycle industry's prospects amid competition from motor vehicles and changing public tastes.