Early Cycling in Ulster and Ireland

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Avatar for tired_momma
3 years ago
Topics: Journey, History, Travel
Image Source: https://www.irishtimes.com

This is what known to the world as the first bicycle which appeared in public on 12 June 1817. A local aristocrat and a German Inventor named Baron Karl von Drais (32 at that time) show up to the public, spinning around Mannheim on his 'dandyhorse' which has no pedal, is made of a wooden frame, two wheels and an upholstered armrest. His bicycle was known as the "swift walker" which hits the road in 1817.

Let's see what Ulster and Ireland early bicycles like and those people to thank for this great invention.

R.J. Mecredy - Cycling and Writing

A young R.J Mecredy

Feats

Richard James Mecredy was born in Ballinasloe, County Galway in 1861 and was educated at Portora Royal School, Enniskillen. His first cycle race was at Monasterevin in 1883 and he went on to become a successful racing cyclist and Irish champion tricycle racer. He did much to promote cycling tourism in Ireland, publishing maps for cyclists showing scenic routes and steep hills. He also invented the game of bicycle polo in 1891.

Fortunes

Although RJ Mecredy never made his fortune, he is recognized as having made significant contributions to the worlds of cycling and motoring through his campaigning and publications such as The Irish Cyclist and Motor News. 'The Father of Irish Motoring' is what he is often referred to.

William Hume and the Sausage Tyres

Feats

This Belfast-built Edlin safety bicycle dating from 1889 is one of the first in the world to be fitted with pneumatic tyres. The man who developed the pneumatic tyre was John Boyd Dunlop, a Belfast vet. Dunlop persuaded William (Willie) Hume, Captain of the Belfast Cruisers Cycling Club to return to racing and ride his new invention at the first public appearance in the competition. The race was held at the Queen's College Athletic Club Sports Day in the grounds of the North of Ireland Cricket Club, Ormeau Road, Belfast on 18th May 1889.

On the day people laughed at the bicycle's "sausage" tyres until Willie won all four races. A few weeks later he travelled to Liverpool and became the first person to win a race in pneumatic tyres in England.

Fortunes

This bicycle was owned by Arthur du Cros from Dublin. Arthur was among those beaten on this first occasion by William Hume on the new tyres. Despite this, the du Cros family recognised the potential of the pneumatic tyre and subsequently exploited Dunlop's innovation, building a successful global industry and making Dunlop a household name.

Arthur du Cros later became the Member of Parliament for Hastings and was opposed to giving the vote to women. In April 1913, a suffragette named Kitty Marion burnt his East Sussex home to the ground in protest.

Woman's Bicycle

Mrs Catherine Mecredy (wife of R.J Mecredy) wearing a practical cycling outfit

Feats

From the 1890s it became acceptable for women to ride bicycles. For those lucky enough to have a bicycle, this changed their lives in subtle but significant ways. Here, at last, was a form of transport which did not require them to have the strength of a man. Here also was the chance to escape tight corsets and very long skirts in favour of more practical clothing, such as bloomers and divided skirts. Young ladies also relished the opportunity to escape from their chaperones and cycle either alone or with friends.

Fortunes

The role of the bicycle in the struggle for women's rights has been underestimated. As Susan B. Anthony, the American campaigner for women's rights said in 1896:

"The bicycle has done more for the emancipation of women more than anything else in the world."

Opel German Bicycle

Advert for an Opel Bicycles c.1900

Opel was founded in 1884 and was one of the earliest German bicycle companies.

Feats

This bicycle was used by the German army in World War I (1914-1918). Unusually, springs were used for its tyres, as there was a shortage of rubber at the time. Bicycle were a very important means of transport during the war, enabling large numbers of troops to cover longer distances than would have been possible on foot. Eight Radfahr-Bataillonen (bicycle battalions) were active within the German army during the war.

Fortunes

The dents on the bicycles show that it had a working life during wartime. It was donated to the Belfast Museum & Art Gallery by the British War Office in 1920, which suggests that it had been seized from the defeated German forces. In 1938, Opel stopped producing bicycles and concentrated on armaments.

John Hanson's 'Round the World' Bicycle

John Hanson in Northern Bangladesh

Feats

Between 15 September 1981 and 17 September 1982, John Hanson (born 1953) undertook an epic journey on this Vikings Clubman bicycle, made by Viking Cycles in Londonderry. Accompanied by John Rogers, he travelled across Europe, Asia and North America to raise money for the charity Tearfund. The pair cycled 13,000 miles (21,000 km) in total, averaging 50 miles (81km) per day. They trained little before embarking on the journey, which was planned using a Philips School Atlas.

Fortunes

Just over Β£54,000 was raised for the charity, which went to help refugees from Northern Thailand who had fled unrest in the neighbouring county of Laos. Despite being robbed at gunpoint in Thailand, suffering from sickness and diarrhoea in India and coming off their bicycles in the United States, the intrepid cyclists enjoyed their journey and felt that it was relatively problem-free. John Hanson wrote a book -Around the World in Cycle Clips: An Eye-opening Journey through Calamities, Curries and Culture Shock (1990) - about their adventures and he remains a keen cyclist.

Transport provide this opportunity for people to go above and beyond their own physical limitation. It's amazing how bicycles change the face of transport and history. Thank you for the amazing people behind this genius invention.

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Comments

So many bikes this time. I've always been curious how the men rode that large front wheeled bike so comfortably, much more how they reached it πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚

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3 years ago

It is very interesting to see how bicycles changed over the centuries and how technology has advanced. In our family,we all have bicycles.I can not imagine life without it.Bicycle is a wonderful recreation sport.At the right speed you can observe nature in all its glory.If you do not have a lot of time,20 minutes is enough to do a cardiovascular workout.

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3 years ago

Darling, I'm so jealous as I cannot balance. I can do in a child's bike but not the proper ones. I need stabilizers. πŸ˜… I have an exercise bike and that's good enough for me. Thank you dear.

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3 years ago

You will have to spend money for oil in other vehicles but at the same time you don't need to do anything like this in bicycle. Along with the health, bicycle also works to save your money. πŸ˜‰ Glad to learn the history of cycling in Ireland. πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘

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3 years ago

My dear, it seems like we're going back to the bicycle time as here during this pandemic, bikes are being sold out. Everyone is wanting bike. And you are right! Thank you so much for your lovely comment.

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3 years ago

My father is a cycling lover. .. Pro laki parn ng tiyan 🀣🀣

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3 years ago

Cycling has become especially popular in France, where the world's largest cycling race, the Tour de France, is still held today. In this country, a system was invented in 1910 that allows the chain to move from one gear to another while driving, which changes speeds and adapts driving to different terrains.

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3 years ago

Ang tagal na nong huling sakay ko sa bike ee, huling drive I mean. Diko na nga tanda, diko tuloy alam if kaya ko pa mag drive 🀣. Diba sabi pag maalam daw mag bike madali nalang din makatuti mag drive ng motor?

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3 years ago

Hindi ko masagot Ruffa at hindi ako marunong magbike. πŸ˜… Magppaturo pa lang ako kay Tia. Hahaha

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3 years ago

Ahaha abaw at dinaig kapa ni baby Tia 🀣. Pero sa car maalam ka?

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3 years ago

Abay puno nga binabangga ko ay tunay na delikado ako sa kalsada pa kaya. πŸ˜‚ Binilhan ako ng libro pag aralan ko daw mga sign πŸ˜‚

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3 years ago

Ahahahshaha, parang di rin ata ako matututo jan sa car ahaha. Pero sayang dapat mag aral ka astig kaya pag maalam ng ganon.

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3 years ago

Naku momma, malas ako sa mga sports kasama na dyan ang pag gamit ng bicycle. Mahina ak bumalanse.

The Miss Hostory πŸ˜„πŸ˜ Nakakatuwa yung mga sinaunang kagamitan din kasi eh, isa yan sa nga excited ako sa pag aaral ng mga anak ko kasi sa tingin ko maeexperience ko yung mga di ko naexperience nung bata pa ako katulad ng bibisita sa mga museum.

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3 years ago

Hindi ako marunong magbike. πŸ™ˆ Wala akong balanse baka di rin ako matututong magmaneho. πŸ˜…

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3 years ago

Usong uso mga bisikleta ngayon sa pinas madam. Lalo na nung nag start ang pandemic. Haha

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3 years ago

Oh yes, seems like we go back to this early days. Even the old ones tried to learn even put stabilizers. I need stabilizers too! πŸ™ˆ

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3 years ago

Haha. Di ka pala marunong mag bike madam? πŸ˜… balancer tawag namin dito.

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3 years ago

Tinuturuan na ako ngayon. πŸ™ˆ

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3 years ago

Hahaha. Sobrang enjoy yan pag naka balance kana madam.

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3 years ago

Marunong ka?

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3 years ago

Yes madam. Hehe. Medyo boyish ako nung kabataan kaya di nagpahuli sa mga tropang bois πŸ˜†

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3 years ago

Omg, that's a lot of history about the bycicle, thank you for sharing it

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3 years ago

Thank you so much. How are you doing with your music?

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3 years ago

I'm doing pretty good, i was planning to do the video for the instrumentals now, but i'll have to wait the sun goes down, it's way too hot in here, so i think the video may be up tomorrow. Thank you for asking πŸ₯°. What about you? how's your week going so far?

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3 years ago

Are you at noise.cash too?

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3 years ago

yeah, here is my user: https://noise.cash/u/cesar.cantante :D

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3 years ago

Haha, I know how it feels won't be easy and not that comfortable. I'm good thank you for asking. I'm always busy during the day as my kids are on homeschooling due to lockdown. Looking forward to your video.

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3 years ago

yeah, that's tough, my respects for that, it's not easy to be a mom

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3 years ago