Wheels of Change

I recently finished Wheels of Change: How Women Rode Their Bicycle to Freedom (With a Few Flat Tires Along the Way) by Sue Macy.  You may remember that I read her book on the AAGPBL, which led me to this book about women cyclists.  How could I resist?  Follow the female journey from wearing layers of clothing to adopting the split skirt and finally to bloomers, which of course has led to today's flippant fashions. 

The book contains a history of bicycles along with women's roles regarding them starting in the latter 1800s.  Ever since there were bicycles, there has been women riding them.  Of course, the first women started cycling so that they could prove they were better than men.  Wonderful stories tell of the crazy things these women did, like ride a century a day for over two weeks, or try to ride a bicycle around the world!  There were races and competitions all over the place.  It amazes me that women did these things historically when I can't even do them now, and my bike only weighs 15 pounds, not 70 and I have loads of gear to make me more comfortable than they ever were.

Here is a poem written in 1893 that summarizes how bicycling changed the role of women that I particularly liked:

Wheels and Wheels

The maiden with her wheel of old

Sat by the fire to spin,

While lightly through her careful hold

The flax slid out and in

Today, her distaff, rock and reel

Far out of sigh are hurled,

For now the maiden with her wheel

Goes spinning round the world.

The book is very short and contains historical documentation that is interesting.  It is written for teenagers and has lots of period pictures and is a wonderful visual experience.  I recommend getting the book and not the audiobook.