The Wheelmen is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to keeping
alive the heritage of American cycling, promoting the restoration and riding
of early cycles (1918 or earlier), and encouraging cycling as part of modern
living. Members are intent on learning lost skills, retelling lost stories,
researching and writing of the golden era of cycling.
The Wheelmen embrace a broad range of
bicycle-related activities, centered on the historical aspects of cycling.
Such activities include riding in parades, tours and demonstrations, holding
rides, participating in events to promote modern cycling, displaying bikes
and memorabilia, research, writing and publishing cycle history, collecting
bicycle literature and memorabilia, restoring cycles, restoring and
recreating uniforms and costumes, recreating grand dance balls, picnics,
developing buglers, show and tell meets, swap meets, auctions, slide shows,
visiting historic sites and museums, and learning trick riding.
Collectors and restorers have salvaged
thousands of antique bicycles and preserved large quantities of bicycle
memorabilia, literature and other valuable
materials of the golden era of cycling. Many Wheelmen have built
outstanding collections of cycles that rival the best of museums. |
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The club was founded in 1967 at Hoopes Park, Wilmington,
DE, at it’s first Official High Wheel Tour by 12 men mainly from the Philadelphia area. Today
the club has over one thousand members across the U.S., Canada and overseas.
In the 30 plus years of its existence, the club has participated in major
events such as the 1976 Bicentennial in Philadelphia, the 1982 World’s Fair
in Knoxville, TN, and grand parades in New York, Detroit, Washington,
Milwaukee and Indianapolis. Each year the club has an Annual Meet.
The Annual Meet is an activity where many Wheelmen
worldwide join together
in one spot for a four-day celebration of antique cycling. Annual
Meets have been held in such historic places as Mystic Seaport, CT;
Newport, RI; Auburn, IN; Niagara Falls, NY; Greenfield Village,
Dearborn, MI; White River Junction, VT; and Williamsburg, VA, with
hundreds of members in attendance. Ten-mile tours on 1918 or
earlier bicycles area also held in conjunction with Annual Meets as well
as twenty-five and one- |
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hundred-mile (century) rides, bicycle games, uniform and costume judging, and bicycle
judging. Ribbons, certificates and medals are presented at most meets for distance rides,
games, races, uniform judging, and judging of bicycles for original or restored condition.
The club has established a constitution and by-laws, elected National Officers and State
Captains, and appointed Committee Chairmen. In addition to the Annual Meet, there are many
Wheelmen gatherings and activities throughout the year sponsored by the various State Divisions
that include many of the fore mentioned activities and rides. Periodically, international tours are
organized for Wheelmen to attend other gatherings sponsored by the International Veteran's
Cycle Association (IVCA). |
The
club caters to the needs of all aspects of cycle history, collectors,
non-riders, and riders of high wheels, tricycles, tandems and safety bicycles. Men, women and children of all ages are welcome to participate in
events throughout the year. Wheelmen membership is open to everyone worldwide whether you own an antique bicycle or just enjoy the early days of our
history when cycling was being born.
Cycling history is an important part of our
American heritage. We invite you to join us in reviving and reliving
the memories of the 1880’s and 1890’s – the great cycling era in
America. |
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Click here for
Membership information
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