News Reports 2001-2002

Roeselare Rally 2002, World Championship results, Canberra Heritage Bike Ride 2001, Canberra Heritage Bike Ride 2002, Brno Rally, Ettelgem Rally 2001, Wheelmen Meet 2002, Wheelmen Meet 2001, New Zealand Tour 2001, Minutes of IVCA AGM, Links in the Chain report, Jack Montgomery's speech, Heritage Bike Ride Victoria, Pennyfarthing Championships Evandale, Commonwealth Games, Guiness World Record stack 2002, John Pinkerton's Obituary, History Conference in Italy

12^TH INTERNATIONAL CYCLE HISTORY CONFERENCE

GRAND HOTEL PIGNA ANTICHE TERME, NR SAN REMO, ITALY

25^TH –29^TH SEPTEMBER, 2001

reported by Les Bowerman from U.K. 

This first appeared in the U.K. Veteran-Cycle Club's News & Views magazine issue No. 286.

The12th Conference organiser was Giuseppe Genazzini, architect and cycle museum proprietor. In practice most of the work seemed to be done by his PR lady, the efficient and charming Rosanna Cantarelli. The venue was a brand new health hotel built on the site of ancient thermal baths high in the hills above the Riviera. Being unavoidably absent, Hans Erhard Lessing pressed Roland Sauvaget into service to introduce the Conference and act as Chairman for the first day. 

Scotford Lawrence, art historian and former professional racing cyclist, had as his subject The Mystery of Gustav Caillebotte's Bicycle. Why did the Impressionists, operating in France in the lat 1860's and the 1870s, not feature the bicycle? Caillebotte, travelling by bicycle, painted modern Paris as it then was but without depicting a single velo. Betinet's painting of Blanche d'Antigny with boneshaker (see The Boneshoker 145132) was the exception. Perhaps artists preferred to show traditional objects and found the bicycle technically difficult.

Roger Street, author of The Pedestrion Hobby‑Horse, reported on The Milan Velocipede of 1811. As Milan is only about 60 miles away, Roger had urged the organisers try to resolve the anomaly in that the Ordnance restricting the use of 'velocipedi' is six years before Drais' Laufirnaschine (see N&V249155 & 251136 and 7th Conference Proceedings). The Milan document was always unlikely to be genuine, but disproving it has been lengthy. Roger reported that we had had work done by a Milanese researcher who found nothing to support 181 1. Giuseppe had managed to borrow one of the four ‘1811’ copies for the Conference and learned that Galbiati, the owner, acquired the copies around the 1950s. Inspection showed it printed in shiny black ink unavailable until after WW2.The paper looked like some crinkly 1950s wall‑paper which Giuseppe showed. Clearly the prints are not genuine, but who would go to this trouble and what was the origin of the wording?

Andrew Ritchie (author of King of the Road (1975) spoke about A Lefebvire, MacMillan & Research into Early Two-wheeled Velocipedes. (see his article on Lefebvre's velocipede in TB8115). 1842 in St Denis, France, is the claimed date and place of manufacture of the Lefebvre velocipede. A little like the supposed MacMillan bicycle it has treadle drive to the rear wheel. If it and its date are authentic, the Lefebvre machine would be the oldest surviving pedal‑driven bicycle. Andrew's contention is that there were at that period Scottish and French treadle‑driven velocipedes which can be said to be the first ‘'bicycles'. Without conclusive documentation, he feels oral history is important. Lefebvre apparently emigrated to San Francisco around 1860, with the machine. His daughter surfaced in 1900 with the machine and as 'proof' of its authenticity a certificate dated 1896 signed by Lefebvre's former 'foreman mechanic' Ernest Lapierre, and the then Mayor of St Denis. As Andrew proceeded, a discrepancy became apparent in that the letter to the daughter (Estelle Cardinet) from the Town Hall enclosing the certificate was dated September 1896 whereas the certificate itself was dated two months later.

Nick Clayton had as subject William Golding and the Claviger Cycle Co. Ltd, Golding was a contemporary of J K Starley. Early chains had disadvantages such as stretching. Practically all safeties for a time in the 1880s were rear chain drive, Enter Wm Golding, baby linen manufacturer. At 45 he moved into bicycles in 1885 with a patent with 173 pages and 73 drawings. He called the levers of his drive system Clavigers. In January 1887 his newly established company exhibited 17 models. Unlike with chain drive, mud or dust made no difference. They claimed lack of fatigue in hill ­climbing. There were many press compliments, but the racing fraternity failed to buy. At the 1889 Stanley Show they exhibited a geared up rear driven rational safety. Two years later they had chain drive and pedals. In 1890, under the management of the Manchester Cycle Mfg Co Ltd, they dispensed with levers. By 1897 the business ended after which Golding took out 10 pneumatic tyre patents by 1892. Unlike his contemporaries Golding made little out his cycle business. Had he been able to advertise racing successes, he would probably have been successful. A few Clavigers survive.

American Duncan Jannieson's paper was on Bicycle Touring in the late 19th Century. The bicycle was the first independent means of transportation. In 1884Thomas Stevens rode his high bicycle across the USA and around the world. Fifteen years later the bicycle was relegated to obscurity over there.

Patrick Chen, formerly a communications officer in the Singapore army and now a Canadian resident, spoke about The Bicycle in War :Vietnam 1945‑1975.The paper concerned the French at Dien Bien Phu and the Americans in the Vietnam War. Petrol was scarce but bicycles readily available although worth three months salary to a worker. The terrain of the Ho Chi Minh trail was tropical, hilly, and with much rain and jungle. Bicycles were used for delivery of food and ammunition as three or four wheels were too wide. Also motor vehicles were too expensive and noisy. Laden with up to 200kg, the bicycles were pushed with wooden extension to seat tube for hand support and ditto to handlebars for steering. On the return journey they could be ridden. Bikes were also used as booby traps with dynamite in the seat tube and a detonator in the headlamp. They exploded when the dynamo pulley moved.

John Pinkerton summarised a paper, of which he had been one of three authors, published this year by the Royal Society. It compared the Mechanical Efficiency of Riding Historic Bicycles. His fellow authors were Alberto E Minetti of Manchester Metropolitan University and Paola Zamparo of an Italian University. They took a hobby horse (repro), a boneshaker an Ordinary, an 1880s Rover, an  1890s Safety (pneumatic tyred) and a 1980s bicycle (hybrid MTB), and measured for each the rolling resistance and air resistance. They found that, 1) apart from the Rover (introduced for safety reasons), each newly invented bicycle improved metabolic economy, 2) rolling resistance decreased with subsequent designs while the frontal area and thus the aerodynamic drag was much the same, except for the Ordinary, & 3) taking body weight on the saddle (firstly with the hobby‑horse) was the main factor in reducing metabolic effort compared to walking or running.

Thursday began with a coach ride through spectacular scenery to Giuseppe's Museo della Bicidetta at the Marina degli Aregai, well displayed in 250 square metres. Later it will move to 1000 square metres with direct access from a cycle path. There were clear dating labels, and Rosanna's framed displays of photos, Campagnolo gears, etc., around the walls were impressive. Notable machines were a boneshaker a wooden‑wheeled Ordinary, a pair of c 1948 wooden bicycles in superb condition, a very original Crypto Geared front­driver and two Italian military bikes. In a lecture at the Marina, Giuseppe set out his proposed rationale for the museum and sought further guidance.

Raymond Henry's paper was on Nicola Barra, small Italo‑French cycle maker of quality machines. His best working years were 1934‑1956. In 1936 he introduced brazed duralumin'Alumag'frames. Post‑war he made only Alumag frames named Barralumin. In all, he made about 5,700 frames. ,

Stephanie Rothemund gave a comprehensive History of Saddle Types. As treatment for new saddles she advised one or two coats ofVaseline on both surfaces.

Theo Stevens' biography of the legendary Dutch rider Jaap Eden ( 1873‑1925) was well researched and received. In 1895/5 he was World Champion at both cycling and skating and received enormous adulation. Turning professional in 1896, he lost his form as a result of various excesses. He retired in 1902, and became alcoholic.

The remaining papers, to which there is insufficient space here to do justice, were: Chester Kyle, History of the International Human Powered Vehicle Association 1976‑1998 in which he played a (the?) leading part. Frank Berto, Hub Gears vs Derailleur Efficiency. FT Bidlake and others proclaimed without evidence the superiority of in‑line chains, but scientific tests show derailleurs slightly more efficient than hub gears. Alastair Dodds, David Rattray's Flying Scot.  I regret I missed this paper.  Nicholas Ciddy, Cycle Purchase in the PostBoom Years (post 1896). 1 also missed this. M Doniselli, Doniselli Company History. This was one of only three Italian‑flavour papers. Doniselle is a small firm still trading in Milan after 80 years. Originally they made mainly trade cycles. Now it is all kinds, including apparently a folding tricycle. Otto Beaujon, Ergonomics and the Drive train system, read by Carl Burgwardt.

Finally, a banquet in the Casino at San Remo where some Conference participants were virtually frog­marched to the basement to be fitted with jackets before the start. Presentations were made to organisers, Giuseppe and Rosanna

 .

Farewell Pinky

John Pinkerton, one of England’s most acknowledged experts in bicycle history and of course its best promoter in interest and accurate research on this topic has passed away on Sunday 3rd February 2002. In his courageous struggle with lung cancer John unfortunately has lost. A warm farewell to him and all our best wishes to his family, his wife Dorothy and his son Douglas.

When I arrived at Drumlanrig Castle in 1990, as the first Austrian ever at an IVCA Rally, I was overwhelmed and frightened by the mass of people and the amount of incredible old bicycles. Such a variety I had never seen before. I pitched my small tent nearby another bigger one, almost too near, as I discovered quickly. My neighbours - father, mother and son, argued friendly, then cordially invited me to their tent for welcome. This friendly British family with an old Bedford Camper, a very used looking tent, and of course some very old bicycles, were the Pinkertons. John turned out to be the organiser of the big event, quickly and simply he introduced this newcomer to all that I had to know. This IVCA Rally, for me the most fascinating of all, became not only the start of my involvement in the IVCA organization; it became also the start for some wonderful friendships, a very special one with John Pinkerton. Since that Rally we often met at various places in the world, and I learned a lot from him, about bicycle history, about doing research and reading historic sources correctly. He corrected some of my own publications, acting as severe but benevolent critic. He was an experienced mate for travelling and entertainment; I well remember  late night dancing in tiny pubs in Köln, eating Sushi in Osaka, funny and endless discussion rounds in Glasgow or Ottawa. John was a generous host in Birmingham for all his friends and an excellent cook, unforgettable for me the time when he was feeding quickly and delicious a really big group of friends of mine in Mödling, Austria.

His Pinkerton Press with inexpensive reprints of valuable British literature on bicycle history gave and will give in the future precise information from primary sources on the topic to uncountable interested enthusiasts. John has done so much, to spread out information on bicycles, offered his knowledge to everybody, whom he found interested. He was well experienced with media work, brought old bicycles in television programs and is responsible for a big part of the worldwide enthusiasm on veteran bicycles that we meet in IVCA Rallies.

The world has lost an honourable man of high knowledge; we have to envy heaven for its new inhabitant.

Walter Ulreich, Pulau Pinang, in February 2002

To Dot and Doug,

We were very sorry to hear the news of Johns death.  John is well remembered for his excellent advice and assistance in identifying and dating many of the exhibits of in our collection.  We appreciated his skills and knowledge in bicycle history and restoration, of which he had more than anyone else in the field.  We send our sincere condolences to you and his family.  He will be sadly missed by many people throughout the world.

Kindest regards

Rod and Annemarie Driver, Australia

Commonwealth Games

The 2002 Com Games symbolises England’s love of the game, if not always the result. In 1911 the Brits expected to trounce the colonies in the Festival of the Empire, the first recorded Games between Empire athletes (held to coincide with the coronation of King George V). To ensure success, only Australasia, Canada and South Africa were invited along, and British athletes far outnumbered all others. The Brits unequivocally stated what was at stake: the Games would “decide Empire supremacy”.

Canada won. And the standout performance came from an Australian, Harold Hardwick He won Australia’s first gold – in the 100yards swim – then backed up and delivered the knockout blow to take the heavyweight boxing title.

With the promise of free accommodation, food and travel grants, eleven nations competed in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

1938 Sydney hosted the third Games and Australia dominated the medal tally.

1950 Auckland, New Zealand

1954 Vancouver, Canada

1958 Cardiff, Wales. South Africa excluded all black athletes from its team. (South Africa left the Commonwealth in 1961)

1962, 1966, 1970, 1974, 1978, 1982

1986. Half the nations pulled out of the Edinburgh Games, protesting New Zealand’s sporting contacts with South Africa.

1990. Gold medals were won by Bermuda, Nauru, Jersey and Guernsey.

1994, the last for Hong Kong

1998. Malaysia became the first Asian country to host the Games, and introduced team sports, hockey, netball, cricket and rugby.

2002, Manchester, England. More than 5000 athletes from 72 nations competed.

Competitors in Cycling from the ACT  were

Road (female)               Margaret Helmsley

Track (female)              Alison Wright

Mountain Bike (female) Mary Grigson

Road (male)                 Michael Rogers

Medal Results for Australian Cycling

Commonwealth Games in Manchester 2002

Road, Men’s Time Trial

Gold     Cadel Evans

Silver    Michael Rogers

Bronze Nathan O’Neill

Road, Womens’s Time Trial

Silver    Anna Millward

Track, Women’s 500m Time Trial

Gold     Kerrie Meares

Mountain Bike, Women’s Cross Country

Bronze Mary Grigson

Track, Women’s Point Race

Gold     Katherine Gilmore

Silver    Rochelle Gilmore

Track, Men’s Sprint

Gold     Ryan Bailey

Silver    Sean Eadie

Bronze Jobie Dajka

Track, Men’s 4000m individual pursuit

Gold     Brad McGee

Track, Men’s 4000m Team Pursuit

Gold     Graeme Brown, Peter Dawson, Mark Renshaw, Luke Roberts

Track, Women’s Sprint

Gold     Kerrie Meares

Bronze Anna Meares

Track, Men’s 20km Scratch Race

Gold     Graeme Brown

Track, Women’s 3000m individual pursuit

Silver    Katherine Bates

Bronze Alison Wright

Track, Men’s Team Sprint

Gold     Jobie Dajka, Sean Eadie, Ryan Bayley

Road, Men’s Road Race

Gold     Stuart O’Grady

Silver    Cadel Evans

Bronze Baden Cooke

Results of the World Championships for Veteran Cycles.

Held in Roeselare, Belgium May 2002

Tricycles with solid tyres: 1. Winkler, Konrad (Germany) 2. Smith, Patrick (England)

Tricycles with pneumatic tyres: 1. Manders, Linda (Netherlands) 2. Boumans, Marcel (Netherlands)

Safety with solid tyres, Ladies:1. Huntington, Elsie (England)

Safety with solid tyres, Men: 1. Kaltwasser, Sasha (Germany) 2. Maes, Rob (Netherlands) 3. Winkler, Frank (Germany)

Safety with pneumatic tyres and fixed wheel: 1. Seggi, Frans (Austria) 2. Vijverman, Steven (Belgium) 3. Maes, Rob (Netherlands)

Safety with pneumatic tyres and freewheel: 1. Amandt, Ignace (Belgium) 2. Janssens, Pietre (Belgium) 3. Vavra, Matyas (Czech Republic)

Pre 1940: 1. Wolinski, Werner (Germany) 2. Stejskai, Pavel (Czech Republic) 3. Janssens, Pieter (Belgium)

Tandems:1. Uhlirova, Vladka & Uhlir, Jiri (Czech Republic) 2. Vavra, Matyas & Vavra (Czech Republic) 3. George, Steve & Geroge Rosalin (England)

Special bicycles post 1940, but not younger than 25 years: 1. Wolinski, Werner (Germany) 2. Munsters, Piet (Netherlands) 3. Bruyneel, Henri (Belgium)

Pennyfarthing Replica Ladies: 1. Zajikova, Iva (Czech Republic) 2. Ruschke, Romy (Germany) 3. Wibs, Blanka (Germany)

Pennyfarthing Replica Men: 1. Zimovcak, Jozef (Czech Republic) 2. Bachi, Georg (Austria) 3.Valenta, Jiri (Czech Republic)

Pennyfarthing Original Ladies: 1. Lundington, Cigdem (USA) 2. Zajikova, Iva (Czech Republic) 3. Pickering, Madeleine (England)

Pennyfarthing Original Men: 1. Zimovcak, Jozef (Czech Republic) 2. Malseed, John (England) 3. Evans, Merlin (England)

Draisiennes-Michaux-Hobby Horses: 1. Liebsher, Walter (Germany) 2. Haylor, Bill (England) 3. Winkler, Frank (Germany)

Best Costume: 1. Zonka, Marie-Francoise (France) 2. Tuskova, Veronika (Czech Republic) 3. Stepanova, Zuzanna (Czech Republic)

Canberra Heritage Bike Ride 6^th April 2002

In glorious weather a small band of riders set out from the storeroom at Dickson. Each rider had carefully chosen his/her bike and dressed in costume suitable to the period of the bike. A real Australian flavour was added by the bicycle accessories and personal outfits of the O’Meley’s. The riding was pleasant, mostly along the bike paths of the northern suburbs of Canberra, a leisurely flat ride of 15 km. Upon arrival at Gold Creek Historic Homestead in Gunghalin Drive, Ngunnawal, we were greeted by the organisers who were planning to launch the Canberra Heritage Festival. The Homestead is situated on an original property, and although surrounded by suburbia, it’s country character has been maintained, so that while there, you could think you were back in the days of the early nineteenth century. The folk out there had gone to some lengths to maintain the atmosphere, with food stalls, music, and dancing. Cutting of the cake, speeches, and media people all added to the enjoyment of the day. We said our goodbyes early as we still had to ride back to the storeroom, where afternoon tea and much conversation was indulged in. These occasions are important to the participants for sharing knowledge and ideas of our favourite pastime – cycles and cycling.

Annemarie Driver

2002 Wheelmen Colorado Meet, in USA

The 2002 Colorado Meet Photo Journey web pages have been completed and are ready for your enjoyment!  1,484 photos were submitted and  715 photos used, spread over 13 meet categories. Be sure to check out the World Record Stack category for "never before seen" images of the completed stack.

http://www.thewheelmen.org/sections/meets/colorado2002/default.asp 

2002 Wheelmen OHWT Parade, in USA

     Here is a web site with a lot of pictures of the 2002 OHWT Parade....in Downtown Golden. If you have not already seen it, you might enjoy it.  It has the pix  as a slide show...automatically changing every 10 seconds

www.ecentral.com/members/jimsmith/Golden/BBD_2002_SlideShow/index.html

this is not on-line anymore

Vintage Cycle Club of Victoria 

Annual Heritage Bike Ride Weekend, 

held in Beechworth, Victoria

By Annemarie Driver

 Some participants came by train from Melbourne and some came in their cars from other places. We met at the railway station in Wangaratta and rode the 43 km up to Beechworth. The fine sunny weather meant the riding was a joy on the quiet back roads, and the rail trail about which we had been apprehensive, proved to be magnificent on a good surfaced path, the first half flat and second steadily climbing. Accommodation for some was at a well-appointed share hostel and for others at the recently re-furbished hotel. Dinner was in a delightful setting, inside the Bourke Memorial Museum, before which, the curator, Anna Robbins, gave a guided tour. An interesting aspect of the Museum was the ‘Street of Shops’ showing life in the early part of the Century in Beechworth. And the walking tour through the cemetery at night imparted more local history, but no ghosts.

On Sunday morning there were ‘Games’, a practical run through of the facilities and the rules that will be used next ear when the International Rally will be held here. The novelty events should be fun, with the more serious of the riders competing in the tag team relays. We were then led by local guide, James Toole, taking in the sights of the town, with explanations along the way, a group photo stop, and an impromptu parade down the main street, causing all the local and visiting tourists to stop and stare. The Bakery was THE place to refuel and make ready for the downhill ride. Care had to be taken especially by the pennyfarthing riders as riding on the gravel downhill without adequate brakes does require some skill.

Thanks to the organisers as extra complications were involved with this event, such as keeping to train timetables, back up vehicles appearing at various points to help with the steepest grades, and being aware of our safety at all times. Indeed a good omen for next March when many more bodies and bikes will be involved. For more information on that event see the web site at http://HistoricCyclesDownunder.info

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IVCA RALLY AT ROESELARE, BELGIUM 

8 - 11 MAY 2002

By Glen Norcliffe

Photos by Gary and Doris Woodword, USA. More photos can be found at http://www.thewheelmen.org/sections/photographs/today/ivca2002/regviews/DSCN0544.jpg

             With some 75,000 persons living in the city and its environs, Roeselare, which is the capital of West Flanders, has the range of facilities needed to stage an excellent IVCA rally.  IVCA members were housed either in the major hotels, in the dormitories or the campground of St Idesbald College or in the residence of the eighteenth century Klein Seminary downtown.  The city suffered considerable damage during two world wars, but the main squares have been lovingly restored and provided an historic setting in which to stage some of the major events of the Meet.

            The meeting began on the evening of 8 May with a boisterous reception hosted by the Mayor of Roeselare.  On Thursday the weather held fair for the century with many laps up-wind past the pig farm and down wind back to the college: the course was flat and fast and most riders achieved their goals and some much more.  The Annual General Meeting of the IVCA was held the same evening with Walter Ulreich, our loyal president since 1995, in the chair for the last time.  Otto Beaujon of the Netherlands was elected the new president of the International Veteran Cycle Association (minutes of the AGM will be reported in the next issue of the Journal).   

            Dawn on Friday morning was marked by much rustling on the campsite as bygone treasures were gathered up for the flea market which officially began after breakfast, but which in practice had been surreptitiously underway since the first van had wheeled in on Wednesday.  By noon many stalls were largely bare as happy buyers left beaming with pleasure at their new acquisitions - at least until meeting the glassy stare of their partners (“what on earth did you buy that for?”). 

            Thursday afternoon’s races were held on the College’s track, a crushed brick and gravel surface with rather square corners which made the turns tricky.  The World Highwheel men’s championship was held comfortably by the reigning champion, Josef Zimovcak of the Czech Republic, while the women’s title was won equally convincingly by newcomer, Cigdem Lundington of Turkey (via Chicago).   In the evening further races for draisines, velocipedes and ordinaries were held in the centre of Town around the square on which stands the medieval church of St Michael.  A large crowd were greatly entertained by the closely contested races.

            Saturday, the final day, was marked by a lengthy tour of Roeselare by over 300 riders on tricycles, bicycles and velocipedes.  At its half way mark the tour reached the Grote Market where the mayor and local dignitaries welcomed each national group and asked them to stand on the steps of the eighteenth century Stadhuis (City Hall) with its fine Louis XV architecture while their national anthem was played.  Lunch was provided at the nearby Nationaal Wielermuseum (bicycle museum) which gave participants a chance to inspect the excellent bicycle collection there on display (would that more of the machines had been identified for the enthusiasts, and that the brochure did not repeat long known inaccuracies about Leonardo bicycles, Macmillan machines and faulty dating of Michaux production).  The Tour continued through the south of the city in the afternoon, returning to St Idesbald College in time for participants to recover for the evening Gala at the nearby Hallen.  That evening a great time was had by all as champagne flowed, canapes and plats were eaten at a record rate, and almost the entire company took to the floor to engage in a hybrid of dancing and rioting. 

            To Eric Delange and to his many assistants goes the sincere  thanks of the IVCA for all the work done to mount a memorable meet.

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The New Zealand Victorian Bicycle Tour, Nov 2001

By Gary W.Sanderson, USA

 The New Zealand Victorian Bicycle Tour is organized by a group working with the Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust in Oamaru on the east coast of New Zealand’s north Island. The Tour precedes a Victorian Festival in Oamaru that includes penny-farthing Bicycle races, a grand Victorian Ball, and a Street Festival. Oamaru is the perfect setting for these events since the centre of the town has a concentration of imposing Victorian style buildings made of Oamaru whitestone.

The Victorian Fete is wonderful, but the Tour is the greatest! This year’s tour was called “The Capital to Capital Tour”, because it went from Wellington, the capital of the country, to Oamaru, the capital of New Zealand’s Victorian heritage. Thirty riders (over 20 High-wheel bicycles) showed up to November 10, 2001 in Wellington or this tour. After an official welcome at Te Papa (the National Museum), we went to the National Parliament Building for a tour as guests of the MP for the Christchurch area. We did get an insiders view of New Zealand’s government.

The ride started the next day with a ferry trip from Wellington to Picton on the South Island. Daily riding was interspersed with transport by van and truck to cover the long distances involved, and a ride on the Trans Alps train from Greymouth to Christchurch over Arthur’s Pass at an altitude of nearly 1800 metres. The riding varied from Queen Charlotte’s Way from Picton to Havelock with many ocean views to riding down the spectacular Buller’s Gorge from Murchison to Westport. Our stay in Christchurch included a punt on the River Avon, and a Victorian lunch in the Pergola in the Park. The ride took over five days and ended with a dress parade into Oamaru on November 16 where the Mayor and other local dignitaries gave us a formal welcome. Overall, the scenery was spectacular, and the camaraderie was the warmest.

Note: David Walker, Wheelman from Colorado, USA, won the New Zealand Open Championship race on Nov 17. This was the first time that an American won this highly competitive major race, and you can be sure that we were very proud of him!

This is an event that is truly memorable, and it can be recommended for anyone who enjoys riding high-wheel bicycles and/or experiencing a bit of Victorian life.

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Jack Montgomery's Speech 

at the conclusion of the 

Links in the Chain Federation Bike Ride

The speech made on 8th May 2001 by Jack Montgomery in Canberra, when cyclists from every part of Australia arrived on the same day to commemorate the Centenary of Federation.

 Honourable Minister, members of the official party ladies and gentlemen. And in particular, the completing cyclists,..

1 hope all of you can understand just what this means to me to be here, 50 years to the day after the completion of my ride from Alice Springs in 1951. It gives me great please to congratulate all of those who have completed a part of the Links in the Chain re‑enactment There were only three of us. Luke has impressed on me greatly to stress the fact that there were only three of us previously. But look at the host of you here, assembled, which is wonderful. So cycling is on the move. 1 would like you to consider 'Pride in Achievement'  motherhood, parenthood, a skill or profession, service, a duty; but when you do some achievement that is unique, that is different, such as that some of you have done, in a long distance ride, something that is unique, almost like climbing Mt Everest then this is special. 1 am sure all of you here with your push‑bikes, understand exactly what 1 am talking about. 1 would like to dwell for a moment on where achievement is pitted against the elements. Because this is the greatest of all achievements, if you are doing something. 1 can recall on my ride outside Wyatt Creek, or some other very obscure little place, 1 encountered a severe storm. Here /am with nothing except my pushbike, a sleeping bag, and water. And it was bucketing down pouring rain. 1 had all these loyalty messages which 1 had to present to the Prime Minister. It is then you realise how helpless you are, soaked to the skin. And pitted against the elements, no shelter, no trees, nothing. And the push bike chain is clogged up with red cement!

I'd also like to throw in some thankyou's. There has to be one for Sir Hubert Opperman a wonderful man who fifty years ago met us here ‑ the three of us, Les Cecil from Calms, myself from Alice Springs and Vic Waltham from WA and the Kimberleys and cycled in with us, which 1 thought was wonderful. 1 think he did about 10kms with us. May have even been 10 miles. And introduced us to the Prime Minister on these steps. And the words of the Prime Minister "Thankyou Laddy". Because then, Opperman was only a very junior minister. I would like to thank also Sir Robert Menzies for his encouragement in setting up the original ride. And to his daughter Heather for being here today. Because she was at the 1951 reception. I remember clearly that evening and she knocked me off my feet. So stunningly beautiful. And she still is. I would like to thank also those who saw merit in my suggestion to re‑enact that event. I submitted a letter to Peter McGauran in 1998 and 1 wish to thank him for following that up. Also my local Minister Bob Charles, and to Marie and Luke again, thanks for such superb organisation, meticulous organisation. Wonderful. To Pedal Power, (1 think Pedal Power did a lot of broadcasting I'm not up on that side so I hope I am saying the right thing) but 1 think Pedal Power pushed this along a great deal.

And as a conclusion I wish to ask you to reflect on a couple of things. Firstly, the choosing of the name which is so ideal. “Links in the Chain” – it totally personifies cycling. Secondly, the words of Sir Robert Gordon Menzies when he received me and Les Cecil and Waltham here on these steps fifty years ago. This is what he said in his address: "When six colonies became one nation, Australia then became significant in the world. This is a great country to live in. And it is for all of us to make it greater in the next 50 years than it has become in the past 50 years.

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Wheelmen Meet in Buffalo, New York, USA, 2001

By Bill Donnelly

The first day, Wednesday August 8, was Century Day.  Two courses were offered, the Grand Island Century, which had 25-mile laps, or the Erie, Pennsylvania to Buffalo, New York point-to-point Century.  A large percentage of the riders, approximately 60, choose the Erie to Buffalo Century.  We all spent the night at a Holiday Inn in Erie and gathered outside for a 6:00 AM mass start.  Route 20 was our course to Buffalo.  It was reasonably flat, but had numerous roller hills, which made it fun and interesting.  The first riders arrived at 2:00 PM at Carl and Clary Burgwardt’s Pedaling History Bicycle Museum.  The last rider came in about 9:30 PM.  It was a fun century.  From here we moved into a dormitory at the State University of New York Buffalo campus.  This dormitory was a real maze.  People had to be led to their rooms the first time and then if you were real lucky you might find your room by yourself the next time or, as happened to some people, you would wander around and suddenly end up in the basement or outside and have to go to the front of the building and try again.

 The second day began with an Organized Highwheel Tour (OHWT) to the Amherst Museum, which had many old buildings such as homes, schoolhouses, and churches, which had been brought to this site from other parts of New York State to preserve them for future generations to see how their ancestors lived.  They also had many fine exhibits inside, and a history of the Erie Canal.  We ate a box lunch here and then rode back to the campus for a seminar on seat restoration and building for old bikes by Douglas Redmond.  He had many fine examples of his work on all types of bicycles.  He demonstrated techniques that could be used to build or restore seats using common tools without a large investment while achieving a professional look.  That evening we had a barbeque dinner and then drove to Niagara Falls where we toured the American side of the Falls, and entertained the tourists with a lantern ride around the park on our highwheels with Chinese lanterns hanging from the handlebars or the hub at 9:00 PM.

 Friday was Pan Am Day.  It started with a swap meet in the parking lot followed by an OHWT to visit many of the Pan American Exposition of 1901 exhibits and sites.  After lunch we were treated to a special tour of 5 gigantic steam engine pumps that had pumped water from Lake Erie for the city of Buffalo from around 1900 to 1960.  Electric pumps had replaced these steam pumps, but because of their massive size they were not removed since the cost of demolition was deemed too expensive.  They stood nearly 5 stories high, with 20-ton flywheels and connecting rods that looked to be 30 feet long.  These wonderful old machines may be restored if money can be found.  We then rode to an ice cream social at New York State Pavilion, where we ate so much ice cream we could hardly mount our bikes.  The evening’s feature presentation was “Nicholas Kaufman World Champion Trick Cyclist by Sandra Markham.  Ms Markham is a historian who happened on to postcards from Mr. Kaufman and his family to friends and family as they toured mostly Europe doing trick riding.  She has been studying this family for approximately 16 years.  She had a summer job while in college where she was given numerous piles of old correspondence and charged with organizing this into meaningful stacks.  She serendipitously “decoded” cards from Minnie, Nicholas Kaufman’s niece to a friend in Buffalo and became quite interested in the family.  She has pursued this as a hobby since then.  The Wheelmen voted to give her some money to aid her research.  She has traveled to the Caribbean, Germany, New York City, Florida and other places on vacation to dig up bits of the family’s history.  Mr. Kaufman worked by himself in the 1880’s and then formed a traveling troupe and worked up until WWI putting on bicycle trick riding shows.  He and some of his family chose to live in Germany.  He lived there through both World Wars, even though he was an American citizen.  The presentation was quite interesting and supported with wonderful pictures.  The trick riders in our group were trying to figure out how they did some of their tricks.

 Saturday was the last full day of the event.  The Wheelmen National Annual Meeting consumed the morning.  In the afternoon we headed to a running track on campus for the Field Day Activities.  This included racing and games.  Men and women raced highwheels and safeties in numerous events.  The games included a coasting event, fish in the bucket drop, racing up to a table and threading a needle and returning, a ride through obstacles to chat and sip tea and return through the obstacles with the person whose time was closest to 1 minute winning, and other games.  The featured event was the “Ingo” race.  It was quite a sight to watch people “racing” around the track on Ingos.  There was also a trick riding contest and a re-creation of a famous race at the Pan American Exposition 100 years ago.  It was a fun afternoon.  Following the races that evening was the Awards Banquet.

 Sunday everyone said their goodbyes and wished all well until next year as we departed for homes scattered all over the world.  Thanks to the New York Wheelmen and the Burgwardts.

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Travelling to the 

International Veteran Cycle rally in Brno, Czech Republic

2001

By Nicky Armstrong, Fremantle WA

 Having spent 36 hours flying half way round the world, and changing airlines twice on the way, I was quite surprised when I arrived in Prague to find that both my bicycle and my luggage had also arrived — without so much as a scratch. 

Getting from the airport to my hotel in the middle of the night with a very large bicycle and not a word of Czech was much easier than I had expected.  The airport taxi rank included taxi vans with ample space for the bicycle, and enough English speaking drivers to ensure that I got to the right hotel.

Having been dropped off outside the hotel, I did get something of a fright — there was no sign of life, the door was locked and the caretaker who answered the night bell spoke no English and clearly wasn’t expecting late arrivals.  For an awful moment I thought I was going to be left standing on the pavement in the middle of the night.  But the caretaker did appear and let me in, and the hotel manager, summonsed by phone, was most apologetic — and did have a booking for me.

After spending the next day sightseeing in Prague I met a group of other rally participants for a visit to the History of the Bicycle display at the National Technical Museum.  We were also let in to the bicycles storage area — its amazing how many treasures can be squeezed into a small space!  Many thanks to Jan Kralik for organising this for us.  If you have internet access the Museum’s web site (including an English translation) can be found at: www.ntm.cz.

The next morning I joined a group riding from Prague to Brno.  Cycling with 5 Germans, 3 Americans, a Canadian, an Irishman, an Englishman and another Australian (on 9 penny farthings and 4 safeties) not only seemed like an appropriate way to get to an international rally, it was also most enjoyable. 

Once off the main road out of Prague we were mostly riding on quiet roads through picturesque countryside — small villages, fields of poppies, forests, farming country and not too many steep hills.  Even the weather was pretty close to perfect.  The fact that none of us spoke a word of Czech didn’t present much of a problem, although ordering meals was sometimes rather a lottery.  But even if we weren’t sure what to expect, the food was always good.   Michael and Robert had planned the route and accommodation so the rest of us hardly even needed to look at a map — a very relaxing way to travel (although perhaps Pete Matthews — who did a 24 hour detour on his own — might not agree!). 

We spent our first evening with Jiri Uhlir and his family in Hostivlice eating barbecued sausages and climbing up and down to the attic, home to Jiri’s impressive bicycle collection.  The family swimming pool proved too much of a temptation for Lionel – the rest of us restrained ourselves and washed more warmly at the local school hostel where we stayed the night.

The following day started rather later than intended and the morning coffee stop had stretched into lunch by the time the slower riders arrived.  It was clear that if we didn’t speed up we weren’t going to reach the intended overnight stop until well into the next day.  So we split into 2 groups, the more energetic riders carrying on — rather more quickly — and the others going more leisurely by train.  Needless to say the train group arrived first, but the riders did make it in before nightfall – just. 

The next day the distance was much less and we rode as a group (more or less) and arrived in Brno together. 

Although I was only able to join the group for the last 3 days of their ride (most of them, having started in Germany, had been on the road for quite a few days before they reached Prague) I was made to feel most welcome and I had a wonderful time.  Many thanks to my riding companions.

Many thanks too, to everyone involved in running the Brno Rally.  I enjoyed that too but I’ll leave it up to someone else to tell you all about it.

I hope we will see you all in Australia in 2003 (if not sooner).

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Velogebeuren 2001 - Ettelgem, Belgium

July 6th -July 9th 2001

By Madeleine and Tony Pickering

 Since 1990 this now  well established event, organised yearly by Eric Delanghe has taken place in and around Ettelgem, Belgium, not far from the coastal resort of Oustende. The event, based at what was originally a Brewery (now a cycle Museum) offers a weekend programme of cycle rides, visits and races for the veteran cycle enthusiast.

Our first involvement with the Velogebeuren was in 1992 when a party of Desford Lane Pedallers riding their Ordinaries left their motor vehicles in England, boarded the Ferry and once arriving at Oustende, rode their cycles with their week-end back packs to the venue at Ettelgem. Now as regular entrants, our week-end back packs are loaded into a motor vehicle upon arrival at Oustende which of course allows us then to ride freely through the streets and out into the Belgium countryside to Ettelgem.

This years entrants came from Belgium, Holland, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, France and England, truly an international gathering. The U.K. contingent arriving as usual by Ferry at Oustende,  were met by Eric Delanghe and several Belgium enthusiasts together with Rod and Annemarie Driver, Jacques and Francine Boisseau and Jacques Phillipeau.

First stop was at Oudenburg to locate our accommodation and luggage. This was at a local school and those of us staying there were more than pleased with the facilities. After a quick wash and brush-up we rode a short distance to Eric Delanghe's house for refreshments, before riding to the Brewery/Museum at Ettelgem for a relaxing social evening with a singsong.  Returning to our accommodation at Oudenburg, a journey of approximately one mile mounted upon Ordinaries after mid-night I can assure you is quite a challenge.

Saturday, after breakfast we set off, sometimes with a Police escort to tour the area calling at various bars, cycling monuments and a brewery en-route. Lunch was taken at a local community centre where one Lady member of the U.V.B.E. took a 45 minute sleep behind some high screens oblivious to the number of photographs taken recording her asleep.

Before continuing the tour a group photograph was taken for the local press. Our evening dinner was taken at the Café Tourmalet, Gistel, surrounded by Sylveer Maes and Johan Museeuw memorabilia, quite appropriate as the Tour de France was in the area over the week-end.

Arriving back at Ettelgem in the early evening, the riders were now some what fragmented. One group had returned to Oustende were they were staying, another group spotting an Ordinary outside yet another bar stopped to investigate. Local enthusiasts returned to their homes whilst we made a visit to see the Land Lady at the Sportif Bar in Ettelgem before returning to our accommodation for a quick wash and brush up. Mounting our Ordinaries we rode back to the Museum in Ettelgem leaving a group enjoying bread and cheese, cakes and cups of tea in the school.

Having over the years acquired the taste for Belgium Trappist beer we spent the evening at the Museum with Eric and friends drinking and discussing cycling topics one of which of course was next years IVCA Rally at Roeselare, Belgium. Eric had prepared Rally entry forms, tourist information and accommodation details for all entrants.

Cycling back well after mid-night we stopped to investigate the bar on the corner of the accommodation block and spent the next hour or so watching various groups return. One ‘Pedaller’ Ordinary mounted after riding past us, turned into the school drive and we were informed took a gentle header, then after parking his machine joined us for a last drink in the bar.

Sunday, after breakfast at Willy’s Diner in Ettelgem, we rode to a Private cycle collection at Snellegem. This proved well worth battling against the rainy conditions to see this marvellous collection of cycles and memorabilia.

Returning to Ettelgem allowed riders a break to find food before the afternoon races. The weather stayed dry throughout the afternoon programme which provided spectators with various races for ladies and gents riding Ordinaries, tandems, trikes, pneumatic safeties, one solid tyred safety and one Boneshaker. All winners received a marble plaque and in the case of the Ordinary riders, a Cycling Shirt as either Champions in the Open, Belgium National, Ladies and Veteran class.

Being very short of Holidays we had to return immediately after the racing to Oustende in time to catch the evening ferry ~ with work beckoning the following day.

A warm, brief and sincere farewell was made to those who were able to stay longer, Rod and Annemarie from Australia (thanks Rod)  Thors from Sweden, Piet and Carla from Holland, Piet and ‘Santa’ from Belgium and of course our worthy organiser, Eric Delanghe.  Before we mounted our cycles and headed north, the sight of Ordinaries ridden closely in line, slip streaming each other along the long straight road to Oustende, followed by safeties has to the local people become a regular sight, long may it continue…..

Where were you by the way  ??

See you next year, first though at the International Rally in May, then later for the Velogebeuren in July….

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We Made It.  We're History

By Luke Wensing

The Links in The Chain Federation Bike Ride has reached Canberra safely. Over 400 cyclists arrived on Tuesday afternoon, 8 May, exactly as scheduled, at 3 pm at the steps of Old Parliament House, to be greeted by The Minister for the Centenary of Federation, Peter McGauran, Mrs Heather Henderson, the daughter of Sir Robert Menzies who greeted cyclists in 1951, and Jack Montgomery, one of the 3 "Captain" Couriers of the 1951 ride.

Also present were representatives of Raine and Horne, sponsors of the "Bike Badge", The Controller of the Royal Australian Mint, makers of the badge, and Ms Christine Liddy, President of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, who received a cheque from Mr Tony Abbott representing the pedalling politicians. The Commonwealth Bank was also represented.

Josh Burke invited young cyclists present to join him in 2051 to continue the tradition of the ride, and Marie Wensing, President of Pedal Power ACT Inc thanked all who participated in the ride and especially those who worked behind the scenes for the obvious success of the event. The Canberra City Band played the National Anthem, and we all managed to sing the second verse!

That night, cyclists gathered in the Albert Hall for a "Bush Dance" and a meal…..a great time was had by all!

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MINUTES of the INTERNATIONAL VETERAN CYCLE ASSOCIATION

 Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held at the 21st IVCA Rally in Brno, Czech Republic, 9 June 2001.      

IVCA members were surrounded by several huge paintings and large chandeliers in the Rubens Room, Slavkov Chateau in the town of Slavkov-Austerlitz for the 2001 AGM, following the Century tour which was run between Slavkov and a point overlooking the Austerlitz  battlefield, site of one of Napoleon's major victories.  The President, Walter Ulreich, was in the chair.

Members Present:  Walter Ulreich (President: Austria); Glen Norcliffe (Secretary: Canada); Eric Delange (Belgium); Silvia Nagy (Austria); Nicky Armstrong (Australia); Paul Farron (Australia); Lipousky Kerol (Slovakia);  Lipouska Jana (Slovakia); Jaroslav Lieskovsky (Slovakia); Helen Hancock (UK); Cyril Hancock (UK); Tony Huntingdon (UK); Elsie Huntingdon (UK); Annemarie Driver (Australia); Jan Kralik (Czech Republic); Martin Grundmeyer (Germany); Monika Grundmeyer (Germany);  Michael Grutzner (Germany); Walter Euhus (Germany); Helge Schultz (Germany); Tilman Wagenhecht (Germany); Florian Freund (Germany).

 1.  The President declared the meeting open at 5.45 p.m.  Attendees were welcomed to Slavkov by the Mayor.

2.  Apologies:  Gert van Moed; John Pinkerton; Ron Sant.

3.  The President moved the adoption of the minutes of the 2000 AGM held in Salisbury, Maryland, seconded by Cyril Hancock.  Passed unanimously.

4.  There was no business arising from the minutes.

5.  The Annual report on the Association's accounts were presented by the President on behalf of the Treasurer.  The adoption of the accounts was moved by Cyril Hancock, seconded by Paul Farron and passed unanimously.

6.  The following were elected to the committee to serve a two year term:

Secretary - Glen Norcliffe

Editor    - Annemarie Driver

National representatives:

            Australia  - Annemarie Driver*

            Austria - Walter Ulreich

            Denmark - Finn Wodschow

            France - not filled

            Japan - not filled

            Netherlands - Otto Beaujon

            New Zealand _ Peter Johnson

            Switzerland - not filled

            United Kingdom - Ron Sant

            United States of America - Norman Batho

 *  The editor requested that whenever possible, all information for publication be sent by E-mail to: email@canberrabicyclemuseum.com.au

7.  Proposals.   None

8.  Future rallies.  The following are approved:

            2002  Roeselare, Belgium

            2003  Australia, combined with Histroy Conference

            2004  Austria, combined with History Conference

            2005  Saxony, Dresden, Germany

            2006  Guelph, Ontario,Canada, combined with History Conference

9.  Other business.

Helge Schultze thanked the Czech hosts for their hospitality, but expressed concern that the cost of camping was higher than in the USA, and that the Century was presented as a race when centuries at previous IVCA meets had been tours.  He felt that the IVCA was not as sport club, but a Club promoting interest in old bicycles.  The President responded that the host club (in this case Favorit) has the discretion to organize the event as it wishes.  Favorit is a sport club. 

Cyril Hancock suggested that future IVCA rallies be riding rallies and not sporting events.

Nicky Armstrong felt that local hosts should be able to set the programme. 

The Secretary felt that as a coordinating body, the IVCA was obliged to accept the practices of the local host organization.  Thus in 2000 there had been no races in Salisbury, Maryland because the Wheelmen do not normally hold races at their meet, and the World Championship was held in Australia that year.

The President, felt that the IVCA should not censor local rules, and that local variability added to the interest of IVCA rallies - there was no rigid formula and each rally was different. 

Paul Farren urged members to bring interesting old bicycles to future IVCA rallies.

Michael Greutzner proposed the creation of a web site for IVCA written in English, German and French.

The President informed members that John Pinkerton was unwell, and members unanimously passed a resolution wishing John a speedy recovery.

The President concluded the meeting by urging members to recruit more people to work for the IVCA.  Country representatives are not sending information to the editor of the Newsletter, so very little news is diffused.  He urged country representatives to announce planned events in the newsletter.

He concluded the meeting by thanking the Czech hosts for their excellent efforts in organizing the meet.  

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The Canberra Heritage Bike Ride 2001

started from Old Parliament House, Canberra for a 30km ride to New Parliament House, Canberra. There was the option of a shorter ride if you had a particularly fragile bike.

Veteran cycles were loaned by the Canberra Bicycle Museum to responsible persons who definitely needed to come for a practise beforehand. Correct period dress according to the age of the bicycle being ridden was worn

This ride was called the Federation Cycle and other participants came from all over Australia.. An Aussie Bush Dance was held at the Albert Hall on the evening of the 8th May. It was the culmination of the "Links in the Chain Federation Bike Ride".

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Penny-Farthing National Championships, Evandale, Tasmania, 2001

 By Alan Kloester

The Evandale Village Fair is a weekend not to be missed if you enjoy a lovely relaxed time with occasional sudden bursts of adrenalin in a small village with almost always perfect weather. Having participated on numerous occasions in the past, Anita and 1 decided to attend as stall holders selling my woodcraft with the added bonus of catching up with a lot of old friends we had not seen for about 5 years since my broken back episode. My business is called "Penny‑Farthing Woodcraft" so it all seemed to be appropriate. The weather was perfect as usual. The organisers did a fantastic job as usual. The atmosphere was great as usual and the line‑up of entrants, whilst not as long as usual (the line‑up... not the entrants) was a quality field that did not fail to keep the crowd enthralled. Things have changed a little since 1 raced there. The young guns seem to have had their "fear gland" removed and hairpin corners are now treated with complete contempt! Some of the not so young guns also have little respect for the dreaded corner hay bales which all went to add to a spectacular event. Michael Doube did us proud by winning the Veterans (55-59) crown. A really hard to beat weekend even as a spectator!

 Results of racing at the Penny-Farthing National Championships, Evandale, Tasmania 2001 

     Ryan Sullivan scooped the pool at the awards presentation at Clarendon, being presented with the Phil McDonald Cup for the road race, the George Shaw trophy for best Tasmanian and the Rex Irvine trophy for best Australian overall – the first time this has been won by a Tasmanian.

Guiness World Record Stack

At History Park....GOLDEN, COLORADO'S Clear Creek History Park.

On July 27, 2002 there were lots of things happening in Golden, Colorado.

It was the Buffalo Bill Days Celebration. This year that celebration had a few extra event to amaze and reward the hearty attrendees:

  * A Wild West Show on Washington Av...really fun...if a stray bullet did not hit you!

  * A World Championship on Washington Av...Trick Riding 1880s bikes....amazing to watch if you did not get run over....

and

  * A Guinness World Record in Clear Creek History Park....see below

  * A heck of a parade entry from the Wheelmen, an organization of Victorian Bike and Culture lovers.

In the upper row you will notice 83 mounted High Wheel Penny Farthing

bicycles, as well as some which are not mounted...at the sides. These 83 are holding each other up. This is a Guinness Record! They held the pose for over 3 minutes. This beat the old record which was set in Feb 2000 in Tasmania,

Australia. That effort had 69 riders in a stack. The folks in the center of the

stack were up for thirty minutes straining to hold the braced position while the others were added to the sides. Their hope was to avoid a Domino effect if the whole line started to lean.  THEY DID HOLD Successfully! Notice how the setting at Clear Creek History Park is so appropriate for the event!

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