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Health & Training

Cycling Was Popular in the First Class Gyms of Titanic and Other Early Cruise Liners

By Monica Buck
Cycling Was Popular in the First Class Gyms of Titanic and Other Early Cruise Liners

The gym on Titanic was, as the ship itself, a marvel of its era. There was an electric horse, electric camel, rowing machine, and of course – cycling machines. The first class passengers were able to buy a ticket, priced at one shilling, and spend a workout session under the watchful eye of Thomas McCauley. On the night of 15 April 1912, the popular physical educator remained at his post in the gym and went down with the ship. Below you can find a gallery and a unique insight into how the people of the early 20th century cycled even during their travels across the sea.

First Class Gym on the Titanic.
First Class Gym on the Titanic.
“Cycle racing machines” in the Titanic’s gym.
The Titanic Gym wasn’t nearly the only one in existence aboard the early cruise and ocean liners.
The Titanic’s Gym wasn’t nearly the only one in existence aboard the early cruise and ocean liners.
English liner Queen Mary and the setup of exercise bikes, with an enormous meter indicating the distance covered (1932).
English liner Queen Mary and the setup of exercise bikes, with an enormous meter indicating the distance covered (1932).
Passangers riding exercise bikes whilst wearing day clothes in a gym on board the Cunard line liner, RMS Franconia (1911).
Passangers riding exercise bikes whilst wearing day clothes in a gym on board the Cunard line liner, RMS Franconia (1911).
An early cycling machine aboard the Cunard cruise liner Franconia (1912).
An early cycling machine aboard the Cunard cruise liner Franconia (1912).
Passenger riding the electric horse in the gym on the liner SS Bermuda.
Passenger riding the electric horse in the gym on the liner SS Bermuda.
The first class gym on the Liner Vulcania, 1930.
The first class gym on the Liner Vulcania, 1930.
Women using the cycle machine in the gym on board the Homeric Liner (1922).
Women using the cycle machine in the gym on board the Homeric Liner (1922).
Gym of the Neptunia Transatlantic Liner (1930).
Gym of the Neptunia Transatlantic Liner (1930).
Woman using an apparatus in the gymnasium of the ocean liner S.S. Bremen. A cycling machine in the behind.
Woman using an apparatus in the gymnasium of the ocean liner S.S. Bremen. A cycling machine in the behind.
Victoria Motorship, 1930.
Victoria Motorship, 1930.
Passengers on the Canadian Pacific liner Duchess of Bedford keep fit in the ship's gym, 1931.
Passengers on the Canadian Pacific liner Duchess of Bedford keep fit in the ship’s gym, 1931.

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