Source 3

Cyclists, 1891 (COPY 1/95 f.294)

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4. This is a picture of a ladies cycle race drawn around 1891:

  • Look at the bicycles the ladies are riding.
  • How are these different from a modern bike?
  • Compare what the ladies in the crowd are wearing with the ladies on the cycles. What are the main differences?
  • How easy do you think it would have been to ride these bicycles? Why?
  • Why do you think the bicycle shown in this source was called a ‘Penny Farthing’?