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Re:Cyclists: 200 Years on Two Wheels
Somewhere in a German forest 200 years ago, during the darkest, wettest summer for centuries, the story of cycling began. The calls to ban it were more or less immediate.
Re: Cyclists is the tale of the following two centuries. It tells how cycling became a kinky vaudeville act for Parisians, how it was the basis of an American business empire to rival Henry Ford's, and how it found a unique home in the British Isles.
The Victorian love of cycling started with penny-farthing riders, who explored lonely roads that had been left abandoned by the coming of the railways. Then high-society took to it - in the 1980s the glittering parties of the London Season featured bicycles dancing in the ballroom, and every member of the House of Lords rode a bike.
Twentieth-century cycling was very different, and even more popular. It became the sport and the pastime of millions of ordinary people who wanted to escape the city smog, or to experience the excitement of a weekend's racing. Cycling offered adventure and independence in the good times, and consolation during the war years and the Great Depression.
Re: Cyclists tells the story of cycling's glories and also of its despairs, of how it only just avoided extinction in the motoring boom of the 1960s. And finally, at the dawn of the 21st century, it celebrates how cycling rose again - a little different, a lot more fashionable, but still about the same simple pleasures that it always has been: the wind in your face and the thrill of two-wheeled freedom.
Re: Cyclists is the tale of the following two centuries. It tells how cycling became a kinky vaudeville act for Parisians, how it was the basis of an American business empire to rival Henry Ford's, and how it found a unique home in the British Isles.
The Victorian love of cycling started with penny-farthing riders, who explored lonely roads that had been left abandoned by the coming of the railways. Then high-society took to it - in the 1980s the glittering parties of the London Season featured bicycles dancing in the ballroom, and every member of the House of Lords rode a bike.
Twentieth-century cycling was very different, and even more popular. It became the sport and the pastime of millions of ordinary people who wanted to escape the city smog, or to experience the excitement of a weekend's racing. Cycling offered adventure and independence in the good times, and consolation during the war years and the Great Depression.
Re: Cyclists tells the story of cycling's glories and also of its despairs, of how it only just avoided extinction in the motoring boom of the 1960s. And finally, at the dawn of the 21st century, it celebrates how cycling rose again - a little different, a lot more fashionable, but still about the same simple pleasures that it always has been: the wind in your face and the thrill of two-wheeled freedom.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 23, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
July 6, 2019
This is more unabashedly a British-oriented history than I was expecting. Because of this I feel that the latter influences of the rise of American cycling ala Lance were downplayed (barely mentioned in passing) and the positioning of the Great Tours were strangely described repeatedly as “Continental cycling/racing”. The end of the history did seem a little rushed, although I am happy his last chapter is quote deliberately contrarian in that it is not wildly optimistic about the future of the bike.
Mountain biking was mentioned in a mere 3 pages, with no real reference to technological influence (despite the start of the book being quite intrigued by the development of the bicycle) which I do think was a factor (along with Lance and Team Sky and the Lottery) of the 90’s and 00’s resurgence, although this was also positioned a mountain biking bringing “non-cyclists” into a community that was distinctly different, and that matched the rest of the tone of the book.
In short, an interesting read with some great quotable moments, but definitely the road of British cycling, in Britain.
Mountain biking was mentioned in a mere 3 pages, with no real reference to technological influence (despite the start of the book being quite intrigued by the development of the bicycle) which I do think was a factor (along with Lance and Team Sky and the Lottery) of the 90’s and 00’s resurgence, although this was also positioned a mountain biking bringing “non-cyclists” into a community that was distinctly different, and that matched the rest of the tone of the book.
In short, an interesting read with some great quotable moments, but definitely the road of British cycling, in Britain.
October 10, 2018
Enjoyable, interesting, funny. It's the sort of book that makes me feel I am now part of history, being aware of and involved in some of the content of the book. For example, Ray Booty, the first man to beat four hours for a 100-mile time trial was a man I raced against in the 1960s. Sadly, for me, he was a much faster rider than I was. Hutchinson's style keeps the interest going all through the book. The only downside side was I could have done with a few pictures, especially when describing the complicated victorian bicycles and I was expecting a bit more on the current tension between motorists and cyclists. All in all an excellent and highly recommended book.
April 3, 2020
Michael Hutchinson is a writer for a cycling magazine and is a former pro-cyclist. Michael's book is a beautifully written history of cycling, primarily but not exclusively in Britain, covering all types of cycling and all types of riders. Its a fine overview filled with many quirky historical anecdotes he has found, many of which will make you laugh. Example: the British military in WWI developed a two rider tandem on which was mounted a machine gun for the stoker (the rear rider) to operate. If you are a cyclist of any stripe you will enjoy this read.
October 2, 2022
I enjoyed this a lot. Readable, funny (I actually laughed out loud at one point), informative and memorable. I learned things I'd previously never known, like the fact that cyclists in the 1930s fought a long rearguard action against the prospect of being forced to carry rear lights, on the not unreasonable grounds that this redirected the responsibility for caution onto the vehicle being overtaken, rather than in the duty to anyone overtaking to keep a proper lookout - a battle which was finally lost when the blackout made car headlights completely inadequate.
The first half covers a lot of the same history as Carlton Reid's Roads Were Not Built For Cars, but it never felt like repetition, as the author takes a different angle - he is writing about the mental attitudes of cycling, rather than the practicalities of provision for cyclists. Thus book is a lot less academic (I gave up checking the sparse endnotes, because they never gave any further information) but has the edge in terms of readability.
And the history of cycle racing in Britain I knew nothing about at all, having always been strictly a utility cyclist of the variety who travels by bike in the absence of access to a car - I'm competitive, but I'm not a racer. (Or a time-triallist, something else about which I knew nothing!) As a result, I never really associated what I saw on the road with Olympic successes or bikes as fashion statements; however, I think the author is probably right when he suggests that the recent increase in cycle provision is associated with a generation of 'elder statesmen' retiring from racing into lobbying positions where their celebrity gives them the ear of the government.
Am I 'a cyclist'? Probably not by any of Hutchinson's definitions: I'm not a tourer, because I don't have the range (though that idea is the most appealing), I'm not a club cyclist who goes out at weekends in groups, and I'm certainly not a racer. I'm someone for whom a bicycle is a tool to enable me to get on with the rest of my life, like the working classes he describes. But I still enjoyed this book immensely.
The first half covers a lot of the same history as Carlton Reid's Roads Were Not Built For Cars, but it never felt like repetition, as the author takes a different angle - he is writing about the mental attitudes of cycling, rather than the practicalities of provision for cyclists. Thus book is a lot less academic (I gave up checking the sparse endnotes, because they never gave any further information) but has the edge in terms of readability.
And the history of cycle racing in Britain I knew nothing about at all, having always been strictly a utility cyclist of the variety who travels by bike in the absence of access to a car - I'm competitive, but I'm not a racer. (Or a time-triallist, something else about which I knew nothing!) As a result, I never really associated what I saw on the road with Olympic successes or bikes as fashion statements; however, I think the author is probably right when he suggests that the recent increase in cycle provision is associated with a generation of 'elder statesmen' retiring from racing into lobbying positions where their celebrity gives them the ear of the government.
Am I 'a cyclist'? Probably not by any of Hutchinson's definitions: I'm not a tourer, because I don't have the range (though that idea is the most appealing), I'm not a club cyclist who goes out at weekends in groups, and I'm certainly not a racer. I'm someone for whom a bicycle is a tool to enable me to get on with the rest of my life, like the working classes he describes. But I still enjoyed this book immensely.
November 30, 2019
I generally engage easily with books on the history of cycling - almost every other brings in different historical anecdotes on this subject that either I haven't heard before or that are presented in a different way that I find interesting. Somehow this one didn't do much for me. I plugged along with it from the public library for more than a month and got almost half-way through but then decided to let the library have it back. Maybe I'll try again letter.
The book takes a chronological approach. The book might have worked better for me if I had started with chapter 6 that introduces the "safety bicycle" (the more or less modern bike) followed by a chapter on the cycling craze of the 1890s, which is about where my interest in cycling history usually starts. More than 100 pages on what precedes those developments was apparently too much for me. In addition, this book was written mostly for the British reader and while there is some discussion of cycling history in the U.S. (in particular, Colonel Pope) I guess it wasn't enough for me.
The book takes a chronological approach. The book might have worked better for me if I had started with chapter 6 that introduces the "safety bicycle" (the more or less modern bike) followed by a chapter on the cycling craze of the 1890s, which is about where my interest in cycling history usually starts. More than 100 pages on what precedes those developments was apparently too much for me. In addition, this book was written mostly for the British reader and while there is some discussion of cycling history in the U.S. (in particular, Colonel Pope) I guess it wasn't enough for me.
December 21, 2017
In all, this was a useful read! I learned that the penny farthing's front wheel was of such ridiculous size in order to ride over the cobbled roads of the day. I learned that women's bikes have lower frames to accommodate for skirts. I learned that parents used to suspend hammocks between their bikes to cart children around. And I learned a whole lot of useless information about racing. But I also learned quite a bit about touring, and a considerable amount about British infighting.
It was at times, as history books typically are, utterly fucking mindnumbingly dull, but it was also genuinely informative, and often funny. And actually, it directly inspired me to look into joining a club for group runs. I've been on four of them now, and had never even considered it before. All in all, a good read, even if it did take more than a month to trudge through it all.
It was at times, as history books typically are, utterly fucking mindnumbingly dull, but it was also genuinely informative, and often funny. And actually, it directly inspired me to look into joining a club for group runs. I've been on four of them now, and had never even considered it before. All in all, a good read, even if it did take more than a month to trudge through it all.
July 26, 2018
Fun, if Brit-ventric, history of cycling
A fun read that starts off as a general history of the bicycle, but by the 1880s, the focus largely swings to focus on the development of cycling in Britain. This includes more about the politics of cycling at the leading British cycling clubs than most non-British readers might care to read, although it does explain the British focus on time trialing and why British riders never made it big in world-class road racing until Team Sky came on the scene.
A fun read that starts off as a general history of the bicycle, but by the 1880s, the focus largely swings to focus on the development of cycling in Britain. This includes more about the politics of cycling at the leading British cycling clubs than most non-British readers might care to read, although it does explain the British focus on time trialing and why British riders never made it big in world-class road racing until Team Sky came on the scene.
February 20, 2020
More of a book on British cycling and cyclists. Author made a great deal of visual references without any pictures. I guess that is British writing for you. Style is full of false humility and clear judgement of others that aren’t as cool as anyone in Britain. To read the account, you’d think that the world did not start until Bradley Wiggins won the TdF. Eddie who? Many shortcomings to recommend as a good read about my favorite personal sport.
November 18, 2017
Very informative book - but only til beginning of 20th century. After that it becomes a history of British cycling and only sometimes there is a line about the other parts of the world. As a fan of MTB I found nothing about it.
Overall - a good book for interested in the history of cycling.
Overall - a good book for interested in the history of cycling.
May 14, 2017
Good first half, shame about the second.
September 20, 2017
A very readable history of the bike and its place in society. I thoroughly enjoyed the book - a good and engaging read.
May 21, 2018
I'm finally done with this work! It was great and I definitely appreciated Hutchinson's humorous style. But I was slowed down by some technical aspects of the story & some of the terminology.
September 12, 2018
Well written, easy to read non-fiction historical account of the development of cycling in the UK. Funny anecdotes in parts. Partner enjoyed reading it too.
November 11, 2018
Very enjoyable read, lots of little gems I wasn't aware of !
November 16, 2021
This is one of the best books about bicycles ever written. If you love bicycles, even just a little, then you'll thoroughly enjoy this book.
August 12, 2024
Too British-centric for me personally, but a good history of the bike otherwise.
February 24, 2025
Fascinating especially the early years of cycling. Unashamedly British point of view but I enjoyed it all the more for that. Light hearted company, easy reading.
July 11, 2023
Des vélos, de l'histoire, du style 👌
May 1, 2017
Another great offering from Dr Hutch. Funny and informative, this is a useful and well structured summary of 200 years of bikes and cycling culture.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews