February 11, 1878

On February 11, 1878, the first bicycle club was formed in the United States, the Boston Bicycle Club. Adventurous young men sporting their Eton caps, Bowler hats and Natties could be found racing their huge-wheeled penny-farthings around town and flaunting their bulging calves to the admiration of the young ladies, and the scowls of the older gentlemen. These young men were the skate-boarders of their time, sporting scars and broken bones from taking a header or ‘coming a cropper’ as the enormous front wheel was notorious for finding every imperfection in the road and flipping the rider into the air and slamming them into the ground, often breaking both of their wrists and shattering their teeth. As has been proven throughout history and in every culture, young men will take risks and compete with each other to see who can go the fastest or cut the tightest corner, just to impress a girl with a pretty smile.

About Joel Byers

Born in North Georgia and educated at some very fine public institutions. Real education started after graduating from college and then getting married and raising two boys. Has the ability to see the funny and absurd in most things and will always remark on it, even if it means getting the stink-eye from his victims.
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