Women on Wheels - Sepia Saturday

This week's prompt photograph of a vintage cycling advertisement,   c.1900   made me take a look at  the topic of women on wheels  - or as,  one journalist in the 1890's called them,  "wheelwomen". 

 "Velocipedes"   were an early form of bicycle, followed by the penny farthing and the boneshaker.   

 

 The introduction of the "safety bicycle" brought in the first hey days for leisure cycling in the 1890's, with women not going to be left behind.  For women, cycling  came to represent a freedom they had not experienced before and the activity quickly became associated with the wider movement of  women's emancipation.   

But there  were public outcries at the prospect of these  changes in the social norm with much of the criticism focusing on women's dress - notably the new style of bloomers and knickerbockers. these  offered more freedom for movemen than women's  usual restrictive dresses.     These fashions became the subject of ridicule in cartoon of the time.

   

 

Newspapers of the day  ** abound  with letters,  articles  and reports  on  the vision of women riding around the countryside .   

In 1894 the Society of Cyclists calling for  "Rational Dress for  Wheelwomen" 

An angry  letter condemned "a young woman who spends most of her time in riding  on a man's bicycle, has a good deal to learn in respect of simplicity and neatness of attire". 

A clergyman refused to give communion to women who turned up for church in bloomers or knickerbockers.  

However some  doctors said firmly that, " as those best qualified to judge, they were almost unanimous in declaring that the average standard of health among women, who cycle had shown an appreciable elevation."

So this was the image portrayed in advertisements and posters that conveyed a sense of fun and freedom. with illustrations of happy cyclist  enjoying the fresh air and exercise.  

As one protagonist said 

A  most exciting and delightful mode of travel.  

• Images above  courtesy of Pixabay
• ** Source:  Find My Past British Newspapers Online 

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But what of my ancestors - next to no  photographs exist of them on bikes.  My grandfather cycled or walked everywhere until he died.   For years, my aunt cycled  in all weathers more than five  miles to her work as a teacher  on a bike with a basket on the front handle bars. When I came to get my first bike, the basket like hers was a "must have" item. 

 

Here is my husband's great Aunt Pat who doing the Second World War rode on her bicycle to work with the Fire Service in Kent  on the south coast. 

Fast forward  more than 110 years from the first image, and here is my granddaughter in the casual dress of the day, plus the  obligatory helmet as "health and safety"  considerations reign supreme.   What a contrast!

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Sepia Saturday gives bloggers an opportunity to share 
their family history and memories through photographs.

 

Click  HERE to see tales form other Sepia Saturday  bloggers.  

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