Boston Wheelmen Sponsor Nation's First 100-Mile Bicycle Race
On this day in 1882, seven men took over 12 hours to cover the distance from Worcester to Boston in the nation's first 100-mile bicycle race. Boston was becoming the bicycle capital of America. Pedestrians strolling in Copley Square had to be wary of young men speeding by on "high wheelers." The city was home to the nation's first bicycle club, first race, first indoor riding rinks, and first mass-produced bicycle — Albert Pope's "Columbia." By 1882 Pope's company was the world's largest bicycle maker. Within a few years, the bike went from being a rich man's plaything to a relatively affordable means of transportation. Although, the car would soon replace it on the road, the bicycle became an essential part of American childhood, and experienced a resurgence in popularity as an eco-friendly mode of transportation.
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