The Bicycle explores the rich and varied history of cycles and cyclists beginning in the early 19th century, when "running machines" caught the fancy of the fashionable world in Europe, and goes on to explore the bicycle's "Golden Age" in the 1890s. By the early 20th century, bicycle technology was also being used in the automobile and aviation industries, while ironically, the popularity of the bicycle itself declined. Today, however, the overcrowding and pollution of our cities has shown the automobile to be a dangerous and unviable solution to the future of transportation, and bicycle clubs and pressure groups have once again presided over a boom in leisure cycling. In this beautifully designed volume, an extraordinary compilation of visual material drawn from the author's collection of antique bicycles, posters, prints and memorabilia - one of the largest private collections in the world - is supplemented by a wealth of previously unpublished documents on technology, bicycle clubs, and cycle racing. An international list of cycling organizations and collections, as well as a bibliography including magazines and other publications will make this book indispensable for cycling enthusiasts of all kinds.