Womens Cycling

I was interested in this article in The Times about the Muslim Ladies Cycling Club. It tells how, despite opposition from some of their own community leaders, Muslim women were enjoying the opportunity to learn how to cycle in London, giving a new sense of freedom.

An early pioneer on the bicycle.

It reminded me of how cycling was embraced by women in the late Victorian age as an opportunity to gain a new sense of freedom.

As cycling evolved in the early nineteenth century it was typically the preserve of men.   The nineteenth century was a time when women were rarely seen taking part in sport – apart from the odd game of croquet and tennis (with ankle length skirts of course).

However, with the development of the safety bike (basic design which is still recognisable today) in the 1880s and 1990s, womens groups were quick to see the liberating potential of the bike. It was embraced by the suffragette / feminist movement as enabling a new sense of independence and economic freedom. Suffragettes such as Alice Hawkins, would travel around on a bicycle giving speeches and talks to people advocating votes for women. She was imprisoned several times before the First World War, but never gave up campaigning or cycling.

Early days of cycling

(Archive Bike Photos)

The potential of the bike, helped develop women’s dress to be less restrictive and enabling more practical clothes, rather than the full length bloomers which were popular in Victorian England. As Susan B. Anthony said:

“Let me tell you what I think of bicycling. I think it has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world. It gives women a feeling of freedom and self-reliance. I stand and rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a wheel…the picture of free, untrammelled womanhood.”

Even the straight laced president of the women’s Christian temperance movement, Frances Willard, wrote a book explaining the joys of cycling – “How I learnt to ride the bike.”

The bike has always been a very accessible form of transport. It’s cheapness and simplicity means it is very easy for people to take up cycling and the greater freedom the bike brings has bought important consequences for social change

Yet, although the bike played an important role in giving women a new sense of freedom, there was opposition to women’s cycling for a long time. It took many years for women to be accepted in racing circles. For example, the great Beryl Burton missed out on the chance of Olympic medals, because female cycling wasn’t included in the Olympics until 1984. (In 1967, Beryl Burton held the 12 hour time trial record for both men and women. (see: great moments of cycling)

Able to compete for three Olympic medals in the 2012 Olympics now female and male cycling have same number of medals.

Photos Women Cycling

Twice the fun

Not quite a proper tandem.

A curious mix. Cycle helmet, suit and Brompton – better than getting stuck in a traffic jam.

Raleigh. Cycle manufacturers were quick to target women.

Cycling to exam

from: Oxford Cycling

Video on Suffragettes and Cycling

Rather dodgy singing in first 30 seconds, but gets better after that.

Related

• Women’s cycling article