Date This Photo

[RubaDub]

Can anyone suggest a rough date for when this photo was taken?

[Brucey]

the bikes have pneumatic tyres and otherwise look to be post ~1894 models. However the bikes are most likely primarily intended for racing on the cinder track, so whilst 'road' fashions evolved over subsequent years, racing bikes didn't change in the same way, so if the bikes were meant for racing they would look about the same (at a distance) from ~1895 to about 1910 at least, maybe later. The main thing that happened during this period is that the machines got a lot cheaper and started to fall within the means of ordinary working folk; how the people in the photo were dressed may give you a good clue as to the age (boater hats = Edwardian?). That the machines in the photo were not only used for racing is evident from the presence of a bell on one or two of them.

cheers

[RubaDub]

the bikes have pneumatic tyres and otherwise look to be post ~1894 models. However the bikes are most likely primarily intended for racing on the cinder track, so whilst 'road' fashions evolved over subsequent years, racing bikes didn't change in the same way, so if the bikes were meant for racing they would look about the same (at a distance) from ~1895 to about 1910 at least, maybe later. The main thing that happened during this period is that the machines got a lot cheaper and started to fall within the means of ordinary working folk; how the people in the photo were dressed may give you a good clue as to the age (boater hats = Edwardian?). That the machines in the photo were not only used for racing is evident from the presence of a bell on one or two of them.

cheers

Thanks.

I was in the county library in Navan Co. Meath Ireland recently and asked the librarian/archivist if he had any early cycling items. The only thing he could show me is this photo which he had in a filing cabinet. It was in a file on its own labeled 'Navan teachers 1920s'. I said I thought it was earlier and dated it about 1910. They obviously have been competing in something as they appear to be showing-off prizes on the ground in front of them.

[peetee]

14th March.

[RubaDub]

14th March.

Or 1st. April?

Seriously though, what makes me think it's earlier is the shirt collars and the hats. The high collars were still around in the '20s but in group photos you don't see so many as in earlier photos. Also hats tended to be caps or softer trilby type in 1920s photos.

[Brucey]

.... They obviously have been competing in something as they appear to be showing-off prizes on the ground in front of them.

they appear to be at a cinder track, as would have been used for cycle racing at that time.

cheers

[pwa]

It strikes me as Edwardian, pre WW1, so 1910 would be as good a guess as any. But that is based mostly on dress, and did dress change much between 1910 and 1920 in rural Ireland? I would expect not. It could be impossible to date. Even the bikes might be a few years old.

[RubaDub]

It strikes me as Edwardian, pre WW1, so 1910 would be as good a guess as any. But that is based mostly on dress, and did dress change much between 1910 and 1920 in rural Ireland? I would expect not. It could be impossible to date. Even the bikes might be a few years old.

Well I don't think we are looking at farm labourers here. I have books of photos taken in 'rural Ireland' in this era and dress does change, in the City (of London) not so much.

[Cyril Haearn]

Could it be a very authentic retro event from 2019?

[Bonefishblues]

That's a recent picture shirley? CUK Forum members out on a run.

[fausto copy]

A great photograph, whenever it was.
If it was me racing at the time I would have tried my best to win the set of cutlery rather than the other silverware.
And what is the purpose of the step-ladder to nowhere I wonder.

[Cunobelin]

The date on the cup is helpful........assuming that it is from the year of the photo

[Cunobelin]

A great photograph, whenever it was.
If it was me racing at the time I would have tried my best to win the set of cutlery rather than the other silverware.
And what is the purpose of the step-ladder to nowhere I wonder.

I believe ordinaries would have been popular at the time.... mounting assistance?

[nez]

I was in the county library in Navan Co. Meath Ireland recently and asked the librarian/archivist if he had any early cycling items. The only thing he could show me is this photo which he had in a filing cabinet. It was in a file on its own labeled 'Navan teachers 1920s'. I said I thought it was earlier and dated it about 1910. They obviously have been competing in something as they appear to be showing-off prizes on the ground in front of them.

Looking at the headstock you'd say their bikes had enormous trail or they rode big old frames. Anyway it's a fabulous picture

[Brucey]

Looking at the headstock you'd say …….. they rode big old frames. Anyway it's a fabulous picture

BITD the correct size frame was the largest that would still let you get the saddle low enough to ride. Seat pins were almost invariably very short things.
Bigger framesets, made the way those were, are almost invariably somewhat comfier to ride on than smaller ones.

cheers