Retro Archives

These Vintage Cycling Illustrations Will Make Your Day

November 18, 2020 at 3:01 pm5 min reading

As autumn is now in full swing and the long, dark days begin to take a toll on the mood of many, we feel the need to brighten up the day and pamper ourselves with a reasonable amount of nostalgia. Let’s dive into the past…

V-rroom! By Mattel: The Bicycle All 60s Kids Wanted Because It Made This Sound

October 8, 2020 at 1:36 pm4 min reading

Socialising and Culture

You can tell it’s Mattel… it’s swell.

Cycling and the Army: Folding Bicycles Were the Choice in the 19th Century

February 28, 2019 at 11:31 am2 min reading

Socialising and Culture

The invention of the bicycle took the world by storm and just like with all game-changing machines, the military wanted to utilize it. Nearly all European armies experimented with bikes in the late 19th century and looked for the ideal design to use in their…

Style Comeback: For the Love of Lugs II

January 11, 2019 at 2:02 pm5 min reading

Road cycling

Our recent article on lug-welded steel frame bicycles proved very popular with you, our readers. So, once you’ve scrolled through the erotica below, please share pictures of your beloved bicycles in the comments – clearly, that’s the most exciting part.

Chicago’s Cycling Craze of 1896

October 11, 2018 at 9:34 am3 min reading

Socialising and Culture

“Get a bicycle,” Mark Twain wrote in 1884. “You will not regret it, if you live.” The famous author might not have enjoyed his time on two wheels, but his readers did. In fact, the whole of America did. The end of the 19th century…

Style Comeback: For the Love of Lugs

May 3, 2018 at 1:04 pm

Road cycling

My older brother inherited my father’s lugged-steel racer when he was 15 and just tall enough to touch his toes to the floor from the saddle. I was intensely jealous – it was a stunningly beautiful machine.

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VIDEO: Britain’s Cyclists Special Excursion Train of the 50s’

February 2, 2018 at 3:03 pm

Road cycling

In reaction to our article about Japan’s ingenious train for cyclists, one of our fans pointed us in the direction of this gem from cycling history. After the Second World War, Britain’s day-to-day and social life was slowly getting back on track and TV broadcasts…

GALLERY: The Racing Roots of the Old Tour de France

November 1, 2017 at 12:44 pm

Road cycling

Back in the day, before it was overshadowed by the shameful doping scandal, the Grand Boucle used to be one of the most glorious sporting events in the world. Now, after the big clean-up, the glamour is starting to slowly come back. However, some fans…

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Check Out These Cool Vintage Cycling Ads from the Victorian Era

October 11, 2017 at 1:25 pm

Socialising and Culture

The 1880s saw an incredible increase in the number of bicycles ridden all around the world. The reason for that was a new design featuring two wheels of equal size. The ground-breaking invention was superior to the boneshakers, high wheelers and penny-farthings of the time…

Hell on Wheels: Check Out These Crazy Bicycles from the 1940s

September 27, 2017 at 1:42 pm

Safety

Nowadays, it’s all about getting lighter and lighter. But back in the day the engineers were finding solutions to completely different problems. Problems that might not have been even there, we got to admit that, but that doesn’t make their solutions any less interesting. On…