Boneshaker - RE: [CR]1955 British Cycle Touring Documentary

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From: "David Toppin" <dave@pelletizer.com>
To: "'Ken Wehrenberg'" <wnwires@htc.net>
References: <04412ff350c3427a892fa60ee9bb1de2@htc.net>
Subject: Boneshaker - RE: [CR]1955 British Cycle Touring Documentary
Date: Thu, 17 May 2007 07:42:01 -0400
Organization: The Pelletizer Group, Inc.
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In-Reply-To: <04412ff350c3427a892fa60ee9bb1de2@htc.net>
cc: "'Classic Rendezvous \(E-mail\)'" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>

An FYI here, the term "boneshaker" refers to the velocipedes of the 1864 - 1870 era with both wheels the same size and pedals attached to the front wheel, usually mostly wooden. The bicycles with the big wheels were called "bicycles" in their day, and Penny Farthings in England, it was a derogatory term back then. They became known as "ordinary bicycles" or "ordinaries" as the safety bicycle (a girlie contraption with the same size wheels - very unattractive and unmanly, ridden primarily by scaredy cats) became more and more popular.

I usually use the term ordinary when talking to those who understand the terms, high wheel bicycle is OK too. Penny Farthing is still used by the British and it doesn't have a derogatory meaning anymore.

The confusion stems from a company from Cleveland that began manufacturing a reproduction highwheeler in the 1960's which they named "Boneshaker" So today we have a bunch of reproduction highwheels with BONESHAKER prominently displayed on the head tube. They are still being made in CA by the son of the original builder in Almeda CA and can be seen at http://www.hiwheel.com

Sorry for the not too on topic rant, but I hate the term boneshaker being used incorrectly, and don't want a bunch of otherwise extremely educated bicycle people spreading the blasphemy!

David Toppin dave@pelletizer.com http://www.pelletizer.com <------ see our complete, searchable inventory.

The Pelletizer Group, Inc. 4 LaChance Street Gardner, MA 01440-2476

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-----Original Message----- From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org [mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of Ken Wehrenberg Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2007 12:10 AM To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Cc: JHurley@jdabrams.com Subject: Re: [CR]1955 British Cycle Touring Documentary

Regarding John Hurley's question: "...has anyone read the book about the guy who road a boneshaker across the US in the 1890's? I never doubted the account when I read it in college days, but now that I think on it, it sounds like fiction."

John, and list: The book is Across Asia on a Bicycle. Thomas Stevens went around the world on a highwheeler in the 1880s. The two guys this book is about graduated from Washington University in St Louis in 1890 and left right away on the first trip around on modern, equally sized wheels bicycles. They went across central Asia, which was apparently more dangerous. The book has lots of photos, too.

Lewis and Clark had nothin' on them.

Ken Wehrenberg, Hermann, MO -- two Washington U graduations under my belt but no trips around the world via bike

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