The perils of night riding - 1878 style

Commuting, Day rides, Audax, Incidents, etc.
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cavasta
Posts: 193
Joined: 26 Aug 2007, 8:28pm
Location: Malvern, Worcestershire

The perils of night riding - 1878 style

Post by cavasta »

Recently I visited the National Cycle Archive at the University of Warwick to research a cycle manufacturing business my ancestors ran in the 19th century. While I was searching through an 1878 issue of the Bicycling Times, I came across this amusing letter:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/72952135@N ... hotostream

I love the options that the correspondent felt were open to him: take the law into his own hands ("and have a good night's amusement in the dark"!), carry a firearm, or stick to the main roads. Great stuff.
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Si
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Re: The perils of night riding - 1878 style

Post by Si »

And people say that we are going downhill today!
snibgo
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Re: The perils of night riding - 1878 style

Post by snibgo »

"... I, of course, gave a warning blast on a bugle I was carrying, ..."

It was a different world.
cavasta
Posts: 193
Joined: 26 Aug 2007, 8:28pm
Location: Malvern, Worcestershire

Re: The perils of night riding - 1878 style

Post by cavasta »

Nor could you ever find a policeman when you wanted one. Different world indeed. Wait a minute...
CJV
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Joined: 24 Sep 2008, 11:42am
Location: London

Re: The perils of night riding - 1878 style

Post by CJV »

"I was riding in company... in the loneliest part of the well known lanes that lead from the main road at Acton to the foot of Kew bridge..."

I love the idea of cycling south from Acton to Kew bridge along lonely 'lanes'. All now long gobbled up by the urban sprawl of west London.
Palinurus
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Joined: 31 Dec 2007, 6:43pm

Re: The perils of night riding - 1878 style

Post by Palinurus »

Inspiring.

I, for one, will be getting a bugle.
boris
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Joined: 5 Nov 2010, 1:58pm

Re: The perils of night riding - 1878 style

Post by boris »

A firearm is also recommended!
cavasta
Posts: 193
Joined: 26 Aug 2007, 8:28pm
Location: Malvern, Worcestershire

Re: The perils of night riding - 1878 style

Post by cavasta »

I prefer to have a "good night's amusement in the dark" :wink:
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