Women on Wheels: The Scandalous Untold History of Women in Bicycling from the 1880s to the 1980s

by April Streeter

A feminist history of bicycling for sport and adventure spans a century of women who changed the world from two wheels. This vivacious tale, peppered with fascinating details from primary sources, shows how women were sometimes the stars of bicycle races and exhibitions, and other times had to overcome sexism, exclusion, and economic inequalities in order to ride. From the almost burlesque show races and creative performances of the 19th century to the evolution of cycling as a modern sport and form of transportation, April Streeter conveys the evolving emotional resonance of bicycling for women and their communities.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Feminism

192 pages, Paperback

Published April 13, 2021

Reviews

[sillypunk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Need to find some more detailed history, but this was a nice quick read: https://blogendorff.com/2021/11/05/bo...

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

We Bike Book Club Sept 2021

I feel like I've read every book on the history of women and bicycling by now and from a podcast with the author, I know she intended this to be more "comprehensive" than others- and there were some stories I hadn't heard before, but I don't know if I'd call it comprehensive. It leaves out pretty much everything from the mid-20th century and forward. And it's very America-based. A couple of stories from Europe, but I'm sure there are great biking stories from central and South America, Asia, Africa, etc.

But it definitely introduced me to new characters and publications I hadn't heard of.

[Jindřich Mynarz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Never would I have thought that I would enjoy reading about women cycling fashion from the 19th century.

[Meghan Arnold · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked up on a trip to Powells last fall. I really want someone to write some literary non-fiction about the early days of women in bicycling. This was full of facts, and stories about historic women cyclists, but I didn’t find it super engaging. Recommend if you’re trying to get an overall view of the history though.

[Nancy Noble · Rating 4 out of 5]

I discovered this great book at the Owls Head Transportation Museum in Rockland, Maine, which has a wonderful exhibit about women on wheels. I enjoyed reading the history, which dates back a lot earlier than I expected. Some of it started to feel a bit repetitive, but overall this was a fun read.