Cycles in Print: American Legion, 1925
In the 1920’s the American Legion Weekly reached a large audience, mainly that of veterans returning home from Europe after World War I. The publication covered a variety of topics, but one, I haphazardly found, focused on bicycles.
The American Legion Weekly – September 18, 1925
Although this is a bit earlier than what I would consider my focus within the realm of vintage cycling, it nonetheless gives some fascinating history on cycling and its impact during the “Great War”. The 3-page spread gives stories and accounts on how the bicycle had serious need in times of battle and during other periods when light, quick mobility was needed by the Corps stationed in Europe and throughout the United States.
The piece first features images of a flapper in knickers and a woman in bloomers near the headline, however this is really quite misleading as the article really has nothing to do with either. The meat of the story really begins with the image below, which showcases a group of Bicycle Corps riding through the Rocky Mountains in 1897.
“The Corps got so it could average forty miles a day in heavy marching order. It didn’t exist long, however, poor roads and the large available supply of horses being important factors in its demise”.
The 25th Infantry traverses through the Rocky Mountains in 1897
From the image, I cannot imagine how rough that terrain must have been, especially on those boat anchors!
The story goes on to describe some interesting facts. Apparently, 29,000 bicycles were used in the American Expeditionary Forces during battle time while on French soil. The biggest problem faced was that the infantry was having the wheels shot out from under them. It was not uncommon for riders to ride 3 or 4 bikes during a battle. The British also used bicycles. They had 100,000 wheels at their disposal and the French and Belgian army had a staggering 150,000 bicycles ready to go! Who knew!?
Out of the three pages of tales, firsthand accounts and facts, the most interesting was how the soldiers adapted to the extra piece of equipment.
“The Corps could clear a nine-foot fence in twenty seconds. The command was, “Jump fence,” and they did it—of course ‘by the numbers’. A front-rank man would rest his wheel against the fence and pull himself over. Thereupon his file would pass over both wheels and follow himself.”
I don’t know if you caught that above but this little drill took twenty seconds to accomplish!
Some other images and captions highlighting advancements were sometimes humorous, sometimes bizarre but always fascinating:
This shakes my bones just looking at it!
Literally ram’s horns handle bars!
Image of an early chain cleaner on a skip tooth crank, although nobody knew why one was needed (!!!)
Perhaps this could be the first steps toward creating a Dutch style frame?
Page 3 of 3 (left hand side)
The proud troops and the bicycles that “got Over There”
Lastly, I leave you with a quote that gives a couple of slightly backhanded compliments to the bicycle but some certain element of the paragraph still fits our times, 87 years later (i.e., commuting).
“The bicycle remains the friend of the vacationist, who holds it in high favor in such resorts as Florida and Bermuda, especially the latter, since the law allows no automobiles on the Bermuda Islands. It is the friend, too, of the small townsman, of the commuter and, as always, of the small boy.”
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