The History of Cycling in Canada The bicycle

The History of Cycling in Canada The bicycle has been around for more than 200 years. Many changes have occurred, from the run bike to the modern bike as we know it. The bicycle also had an impact on the women’s rights movement and in The Great War. As Thomas Kosche said, “ If someone from 1895 were to suddenly wake up in our time they wouldn’t recognize many things, but they’d be familiar with the bicycle. ”

1817 Draisine The first bicycle was invented by a German inventor named Baron Karl Drais. On June 1817 people gathered around to watch Karl test his new invention the Draisine. To test his new invention he did the postal route a quarter of the usual time. The Draisine had two wooden wheels, a saddle but no pedals. He had to run to make it go. That’s why it is also known as the running machine. He was the first person in history to ever ride on two wheels. Karl and the Running machine

1861 Velocipede The next step in the development of the bicycle was the Velocipede. It was invented by a French man named Ernest Michaux. He attached pedals to the axle of the front wheel and the handlebars to the front fork. This meant you had to balance to ride it. Though it got pedals it also had some draw backs. As it was incredibly heavy and had a wrought iron frame. The Velocipede

1867 High Wheel Bicycle The next model a few years later was the high wheel bicycle, it was invented by James Starling. This Bike had an odd design with a huge front wheel and small back wheel. This design allowed the bike to travel greater distances over a shorter period of time. It also helped the bike move faster with less work. You had to be very skilled to ride this bike. High Wheel racing was a popular sport at the time. Louise Armaindo was among Canada’s first female Canadian athletes. She was the first woman who was truly successful as a High Wheel Racer. Nicknamed the Penny-Farthing

1882 Cycling Canada By 1882 cycling became a popular sport in Canada. The Cycling Canada Association was formed. It started with the Canadian Wheelman's Association. Cycling Canada is the oldest national sport organization. It has been in existence for 137 years. The tagline, COME ALONG FOR THE RIDE, is an invitation to all cycling enthusiasts to join them in there journey to inspire Canadians to cycle. Cycling Canada Logo

1885 Safety Bike The safety bike was invented by a British engineer his name was Thomas Humber. With this came the introduction of the bike chain. This addition meant that the bottom bracket and pedals no longer needed to have the same rotational speed as the wheels. This bike has the same components has the bike we know it today. Safety Bicycle

1890 Women’s Rights and the Bicycle The bicycle helped motivate the women's rights movement. The bicycle allowed women go where they wanted and they had to roll up their skirts. It gave them some freedom to go where they pleased. The bikes were designed to allow women to wear skirts and have the skirt not get caught in the bike chain. Both Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton said that "woman is riding to suffrage on the bicycle. ”

1908 First Canadian Olympic Cycling Medal Canada’s first Olympic cycling medal was won in a men's team pursuit race won in London 1908. The team consists of four riders Fredrick Mc. Carthy, Walter Andrews, William Anderson and William Morton. They won the track team pursuit race. A team pursuit is when two four-man teams start on opposite sides of the track and race over 4000 m. The object of the race is to attempt to catch your opponents or complete the ride in the fastest time. 1908 Canadian Olympic team

1914 Canadian Cyclists in The Great War The bicycle was used in The Great War by the Canadian battalion. The cyclists were used for reconnaissance, scouting, screening and communications. Since the Boer War, cyclists had been used on the battlefield as light cavalry. The bicycles were used over horses, for two reasons. They never got tired and you didn’t need to feed them for them to go. They also invented the French Folding bike to be easier stored. Canadian Corps Cyclist Battalion

1975 Saskatchewan Cycling Association By 1975 cycling became a popular sport in Saskatchewan so the Sask Cycling Association also known has the SCA was formed. The Association is involved in organizing and setting up mountain bike races, cyclo-cross, road races and also BMX events. Their goal is to promote, develop and enhance the recreational and competitive sport of cycling. Saskatchewan Cycling Association Logo

1996 Clara Hughes wins Olympic Cycling Medal Clara Hughes, a double season Olympian, is the only athlete in history to win multiple medals at the summer and winter Olympic Games. Her six career medals tie her as Canada’s most decorated Olympian. She was born in Manitoba and first started cycling in 1990. And by 1996 she had won two bronze medals in the summer Olympics. Clara Hughes

2015 My First Sask Cycling Mountain Bike Race I started racing my bike for the race club Off Road Syndicate or in short ORS they are a club out of Regina. There are six Sask cycling races in Saskatchewan. The Cross Country race or Mountain Bike Race is the type of race that is held most often in Saskatchewan. I raced my first Sask cup race in 2015 at the Wascana Challenge Race at the Wascana Trails. Depending on the age category, a race takes between 1 to 2 ½ hours to complete. I raced in the U 13 category and I did 1 lap of the course. The Elite racers do 5 laps of the same course. Courses have a mix of uphill and downhill trails with technical single track to more wide-open spaces. The winner is the first to cross the finish line. I got second in my category.

2016 My first Cyclo-Cross Race Cyclo-Cross was invented in 1902 by soldiers in the French army. Cyclo-Cross races are either 50 or 35 minutes for all participants. The races are held in city parks with a 2. 5 -3. 5 km course length. The course is a mixture of hills, grass, paths and obstacles. These obstacles can be stairs to run up, a steep hill to run up or an artificial barrier. Artificial barriers are very short hurdles (40 cm tall) that require the rider to get off their bike and hop over the barrier while carrying the bike then getting back on the bike and ride away. I raced my first cyclo-cross race in 2016 I got second in my category.

2018 Canmore MTB National Championships In 2018 I went to MTB nationals. In my race I got 8 TH place in my category. I also got to do a cycling camp with the Canadian National Mountain Bike coach. The day before my race we got the watch the pro’s race. I got to see Emily Batty race. One of the Racers in the men’s race came to our camp his name was Evan Guthrie he had got 4 TH place in his race.

2019 Saskatchewan Hall of Fame inducts first Cyclist For more than 45 years, Kinash has been important in the Saskatchewan cycling community. He was a national-level road cyclist from the mid-1970 s to the mid-1980 s. Kinash won the provincial road race championship six times. Bill was inducted as a builder for the sport of cycling. He was provincial cycling coach for six years, SCA president for 10 years, and was president of cycling Canada from 2002 to 2005. Bill Kinash

In conclusion the bicycle is still an important part of our lives today. Most homes in Canada today you will find a bicycle. Learning to ride a bicycle is an important time in a child’s life. Cycling is good for your health, environmentally friendly, and fun for all ages. Whether you want to race your bike or go for a leisurely ride around the block the bicycle has something for everyone.

Bibliography Glenn, Ted, Riding Into Battle : Canadian cyclists in The Great War, 2018 Humber, William, Freewheeling: The story of bicycling in Canada, Erin, Ont, Boston Mills Press, 1986. Norcliffe, G. B, The ride to modernity: The bicycle in Canada, 1869 -1900, Toronto, Ont, University of Toronto Press, 2001. Rediger, Pat, Riding With The Wind: The history of cycling In Saskatchewan, Canada, Saskatchewan Cycling Association and Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, 2001 https: //www. cyclinguk. org/cycle/draisienne-1817 -200 -years-cycling-innovation-design History of the Bicycle https: //www. cyclingcanada. ca/ Cycling Canada https: //saskcycling. ca/ Sask Cycling

https: //www. cbc. ca/sportslongform/entry/louise-armaindo-canadian-professional-sportspioneer Louise Armaindo https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=a. Qx_R 3 oe 76 U Clara Hughes https: //www. theatlantic. com/technology/archive/2014/06/the-technology-craze-of-the-1890 s -that-forever-changed-womens-rights/373535/ Women’s Rights https: //www. dundurn. com/news/Riding-Battle-Canadian-Cyclists-Great-War Cyclists in the War http: //sasksportshalloffame. com/inductees/bill-kinash/ Bill Kinash