Current displays

The year 2001 marks the Centenary of Federation. The celebrations will feature activities and projects involving all Australians everywhere and will embrace people of all ages and backgrounds. The Canberra Bicycle Museum is proud to be part of these celebrations. Until the end of the year, the museum is featuring a special display of Australian cycles from the beginning of the Federation, along with information about the Links in the Chain Federation Ride. Come take a look at what we used to ride a century ago and what cyclists are up to now.

This was set up for the Sydney Olympics. Although dismantled, we still have the bikes and special items used.

A display was set up in the Bicycle Museum, with the help of Dave Mutton and Steve Leko. It is to commemorate Australia’s past history of cycling in the Olympic Games.

There were three significant Australian bicycles in the Olympic display- 1936 Speedwell, 1984 Abeni with rear disc wheel and a 1996 SupaRoo with monocoque frame

The memorabilia articles included - a booklet of the 1936 Berlin Games, a hairnet helmet of 1952, souvenir bell of 1956 Melbourne Games, twin water bottles of 1972, and a streamlined helmet from 1988.

There were individual photos of Dunc Gray, Russell Mockeridge & Lionel Cox, Danny Clark, John Nicholson, Phil Sawyer, Kenrick Tucker, Kathy Watt, Shane Kelly, and Ben Kersten, as well as team photos of 1956, 1972, 1984 and the winners of 1988.

With the help of Larry Lawrence, we have produced a small booklet with some interesting history of past Olympic Games relating to Australian cyclists.

How to understand what is happening when watching the cycle events, including dates, times and venues.

A complimentary copy was included with the newsletter to all financial members of the “Friends”. It will be on sale to personal buyers at the Canberra Bicycle Museum, or by mail for $5 including postage in Aust and Overseas. Ask for the Olympic Cycling Souvenir booklet.

When the museum was moved, this display was dismantled. We hope it can be set up again in a new location.

Complete with mannequin called Boris, the bicycle man. Boris came to us from Dolph Slykhuis in Victoria. The workbench is crowded with tools, a wheel truing jig, and unfinished repair jobs. Hanging up are spare saddles and other parts ready for new jobs and, of course there are bikes, awaiting to be fixed, such as the Super Elliott track bike owned and raced by "Rocky" Marshall of Broken Hill and the 1910 ladies English Halford.

Although this exhibition was dismantled, we have kept the bicycles and items used

These were designed and built by Wayne Kotzur to inform and stimulate, to show the way that pedaling motions are converted into rotary motion. Visitors are able to try them.

The parts and accessories have been packed away, and will be used again soon in the new exhibition space.

There was a glass showcase in the Museum containing some parts and accessories, such as lights, bells, cyclocomputers, pumps, baskets.

	Coventry Machinists’ Co Boneshaker 1869 A very early bicycle, The cranks and pedals are attached to the front axle. Note the wooden spokes. There is a brake on the rear wheel operated by twisting a cord round the handlebars. The first boneshakers were heavy because they were based on the carriage manufacture. This invention came from the Paris shop of Pierre Micheaux. The idea was taken up in England by the Coventry Sewing Machine Co. [#720]
	Pennyfarthing 1885 Each revolution of the pedal on a larger wheel translated into a greater distance covered by the cyclist. Although good speeds could be managed, headers were not uncommon, the braking system being unsafe. Direct spoking. Manufactured by Singer for the Coventry Machinists’ Co. Some modifications have been made to this cycle over the years, the forks being from another machine. The large front wheel measure 57 inches in diameter, making it one of the largest rideable bikes in Australia. [#150]
	Quadrant 1880’s This cycle is remarkably modern for the period of the late 1880’s. One of the many types of bikes promising perfect safety in mounting and dismounting. The name came from an unusual steering developed by the Birmingham firm, in which a pair of small wheels ran in a pair of quadrant shaped guides mounted on the front axle. Replica built by Inner City Cycles, Glebe, Sydney. [#162]
	Solid tyre safety (1880s to 1894) The back wheel was originally 30 inches in diameter and the front wheel was 28 inches in diameter. These bicycles allowed safer mounting and dismounting, but were not popular with the public, possibly due to poor marketing; but also because the short spoke length in the wheels did not provide the shock absorption that high wheeled bicycles gave. The vibration problems were eventually solved by the invention of the pneumatic tyre in 1889. Built by Rudge Cycle Co of Coventry and purchased by Mssrs Marriott and Cooper of London, England. [#294]
	Crypto-Bantam 1893 Introduced in 1893, the Crypto was intended to appeal to older cyclists who could not come to terms with low, rear-wheel-driven safeties. It had a 2 speed gearing-up mechanism within the front wheel hub. [#403]
	Columbia safety 1888 From USA 1888. This design has sprockets fixed on extensions to the forks and a chain drive to the hub, allowing a gearing up to 49”. The crankshafts are ball bearing mounted and the cranks adjustable in three positions. Replica built by Bob Hunt, Sydney. [#562]
	Solid tyre safety 1890 The beginnings of the diamond frame Safeties, term applied to all the new, low, chain-to-rear-wheel machines. Although they had gained some freedom and mobility, women still had to fight to keep their independence, especially as regards the conventional and thoroughly ridiculous rules of the “proper attire”. The maker of this machine is unknown.
	Rover Safety 1885 The decisive arrival and development of the low rear-wheel-driven safety bicycle, sent the high-wheel bicycle into irreversible decline. John Kemp Starley designed the Rover (1885), which “set the fashion to the world”. The speed and safety of the new Rovers were publicised by the Rover Road Race in Sept 1885, organised by the manufacturers Starley and Sutton, who themselves awarded all prizes. Mounted by means of a foot-step on the rear of the frame, as had been the case with high bicycles. Replica built by Brett Richardson, Qld. For some years after this, engineers continued to experiment with various designs which they hoped would equal or better the comfort and performance of the pneumatic tyre safety. [#480]
	Star safety, Gents popular 1896 pattern The pneumatic tyre invented by Dunlop in 1888 was now used on all bikes. The diamond frame design had become standard. Saddles were now adjustable for height thus making the machine more versatile for use by people of differing heights. Spring saddle on an adjustable saddle tube. Manufactured in Wolverhampton, UK in 1896. [#722]
	Ladies safety 1892 Special features are the 26inch wood rims, free wheel, special style handlebars, special type front forks, three plate crown with back forks and stays to match, special saddle and saddle pillar carbide light., spring-loaded clamp fitted to the head of the handlebars. Manufactured by Elswick UK. [#342]
	Tandem 1900 The lady sits at the front (in order to have a pleasant view), with the man steering from behind. Manufactured by Victor Overman Wheel Co, USA in 1900. [#372]
	Timber 1897 Experiments were made with consideration being paid to lightness. The natural qualities of wood included resistance to buckling when a rider hit a curb with force that would certainly compromise a steel frame. The other advantage being that wood didn’t rust. Manufactured by : M.D. Stebbins Manufacturing Co, Springfield Massachusetts in 1897. [#285]
	Dursley Pedersen 1902 One successful and innovatory early lightweight bicycle was named after its creator, Mikael Pedersen. It had a triangular frame of light duplicated tubes, with the saddle slung between the front and back forks. It had a 3 speed hub gear. The Dursley-Pedersen was designed and built by Pedersen in Dursley, England in 1902. This model is a copy built for us by Inner City Cycles, Sydney. [#37]
	Gents safety 1907 This model, the Napoleon, was sold by the well-known store, Sears, in USA, for $15.95 and was guaranteed for 2 years. If you wished to have the coaster hub and brake it was an extra $2.75. Note the wooden rims. The ladies version was called “The Josephine”. Made in the USA, 1907. [#288]
	Gents safety 1935 The Lenroc is a good example of a handbuilt early racer, with pacemaker rims. Later, this company went into manufacturing motorbikes. Manufactured in South Australia. [#681]
	Ladies safety 1930’s A typical ladies bike with a loop frame, back pedal brakes Manufactured by Healing, South Australia. [#663]
	Ladies safety 1950’s One of many popular ladies bikes, it has back pedal brakes, bell, pump holders brazed into rear frame, mudguards, and a straight down tube. Made by Malvern Star in Victoria . [#549]
	Moulton small wheel base, 2 speed. 1965 The Moulton cycle developed in 1959 by British designer Alex Moulton. The first major redesign of the bicycle in many years. IT used 16" wheels and a compact and simple suspension system. The F shape frame and quickly adjustable seat and handlebar post made the Moulton equally suitable for men and women, youngsters and adults. [#325]
	Peugeot Mixte 1970 [#689]
	Repco Folder 1982 Being able to make your bike smaller has advantages when transporting your bike, fit in the boot of the car or take it on the train. [#541]
	Moulton 1984 Moulton stopped manufacturing bicycles in 1972 and then recommenced with their space age frames in 1983. Manufactured in Bradford on Avon, England. [#72]
	Itera Sweden Plastic frame 1982 Why did production only last one year and why weren’t any Itera’s sold in Australia? The Itera is not a very comfortable bike to ride, the frame is not as rigid as a normal bike frame and it tends to flex. They were also available with 3-speed gears. Cyclists have just not taken to it. [#449]
	Patbike Recumbent 1988 Vehicles were to be propelled by human power alone and with no energy storage of any kind.. Under or above steering is a matter of personal comfort. A short wheelbase is considered ideal for quick handling and acceleration. A long wheelbase promotes comfort over long distances. OzHPV Inc can give up to date info. 02 62.
	Child’s Condor BMX 1988 Bicycle Motocross gained popularity in the 1980’s, children being able to do daring things on their rough and tumble bikes. [#360]
	Trimble Carbon fibre frame 1989 The cross frame of the 1880’s has been updated by using modern composite materials to mould a massive but light and springy one-piece off-road frame. It retailed for $3500. [#389]