Sunday, March 25, 2007

37TH Surfman Award: The Wheelmen


I am extremely proud of this week's surfman award winner - The Wheelmen. They have been around over 100 years and bring much bicycle enthusiasm and joy the world over. The picture to the left is of an Ariel Bicycle made by Starley and Smith in 1870, it is generally recognized as the first commercially produced high wheel bicycle. The Wheelmen began as The League of American Wheelmen or L.A.W. for short until they became international is scope and became The Wheelmen. There is a chapter here in Canada. The Canadian Wheelmen began back in 1882 and changed their name officially to the Canadian Cycling Association in 1968, however I still prefer The Canadian Wheelmen. Wheelmen the world over are about preservation, collection and enjoyment of historical bicycles. You don't have to own an old bike to be a member, but it is a given that you will pretty much get yourself one after being exposed to such fine machinery. I have a CCM Ivanhoe made in Toronto at the old Canadian Cycle and Motor Company that I think was from @circa1902, that I have yet to fix up, but one day I will repair it and ride it a century(100 miles). Thank you Wheelmen for existing and being a incredible source of bicycle knowledge throughout the ages.

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home