This is a group portrait of the Swansea cycling club in about 1900. A decade earlier, technological advances (chain drive, pneumatic tire) had made bicycles much safer. New mass-manufacturing processes also meant that almost everyone could afford a bike. Social cycling clubs such as this one were strong advocates for improving road conditions—long before the automobile became popular. The man on the horse is Major Voakes.

Creator: Smith, Robert Candlish, 1853-1950
Date: 1900
Identifier: 967-2-14
Format: Ephemera
Rights: Public domain
Courtesy: Toronto Public Library.
More information: (view details and larger image)

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