The Wheelmen

Bicycles have been around for a long time. Once upon a time they were known as “penny farthings.” That's because they had one hoge wheel (like a British penny) and a small one (the farthing).

Those old bikes were a staple in many daguerreotypes shot in the 19th century, often mounted by a gentleman in a top hat.

Today, the bikes are a rarity. But there is an organization out there that is dedicated to keeping the legacy of old bicycles alive. It's called The Wheelmen. Here's their mission:

The Wheelmen is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to keeping alive the heritage of American cycling, promoting the restoration and riding of early cycles (1918 or earlier), and encouraging cycling as part of modern living. Members are intent on learning lost skills, retelling lost stories, researching and writing of the golden era of cycling.

The club has been around since 1967, and have grown from the twelve original members to over a thousand from all over the world.

Their website is loaded with photos and information about old bicycles. The gallery has images of high-wheelers and hard tired bikes that look more like bikes of today.

You'll also enjoy the recent photos of Wheelmen in action. There's something surreal about seeing men race on antique high-wheelers wearing aerodynamic helmets.

So have fun at today's FamilyFirst site. It's all about getting around on two wheels, circa 1898.

http://www.thewheelmen.org/

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