A couple of days ago the Memphis newspaper had a short historical article about cycling in Memphis circa 1890's. While most people are pretty shocked to find out just how big cycling was in the late 1800's, I was amazed Memphis was so "cycle mad."
Around 1896 the local papers reported "there was never a city more cycle mad than Memphis. Everyone owns a wheel and it is considered the proper thing among the smart set to ride bicycles."
There was an indoor velodrome that attracted a crowd of 3,500 to see the Southern championship events in 1896. J. Eaton performed an exhibition mile at the Bicycle Dome in 1 minute, 58 sec. Apparently, betting was pretty heavy and the track manager was quoted in the local papers as saying, "an undesirable element had been frequenting the track." The track burned down in 1898.
May 24, 1898 saw the ninth road race in suburb Raleigh with over 2,000 spectators lining the streets. There was a bicycle "factory" in Memphis making the University brand. Anyone seen one of these?
It was too good to last and according to the paper in 1900 "the cycling fad had just about passed." "It was considered the proper thing among the smart set to ride bicycles. But when society realized that its poorer sisters and brothers were riding on the same boulevards, drinking and lunching at the same road houses and refectories - one by one they took up golf and other stylish sports."
A sad, but true tale...
Jim Cole
Memphis, TN