Recently, I was out in the shed, starting the clean-out process that we all face from time to time. Standing up, I bumped my head into an old racing bicycle gathering dust, hanging from the rafters. Gazing at the sleek blend of metal alloy and wires and at the complex gearbox brought me back to another time. . .when as a teenager I conceived, organized, and helped run the Lakewood Day Bicycle Races.

Bicycle racing used to be big in America many years before I was born. At the turn of the century, an American named "Major" Marshall Taylor won possibly the first world championship achieved by a black man by riding his bicycle in sprint races.

In addition to racing, cycling was well-known as a contributor to the women's movement, as evidenced by this quote credited to Susan B. Anthony in 1896: "Let me tell you what I think of bicycling. I think it has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world. I stand and rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a wheel. It gives woman a feeling of freedom and self-reliance."

Bikes, or at least two-wheeled, rolling, push-along vehicles, have been around since before the American Revolution. A Scottish blacksmith named Mcmillan came up with pedals for bikes in the 1830's, and rubber tires came along about a decade or so later, after American inventor Charles Goodyear perfected a process to vulcanize rubber in 1844.

At first, cycles were very expensive. Many had high wheels and were very dangerous to ride, but the young and daring (and rich) took to them, much like kids take to skateboards today. A safer alternative, the ride-in pedal tricycle, still had high wheels, but afforded a greater measure of protection on the road. In fact, a gentleman named Benz, in Germany in the 1880's, designed one of these with an engine, and this is considered to have been one of the first automobiles.

Actually, many advances in cycling technology were applied to the new automobiles and motorcycles, as gasoline engine power improved in performance. And as we all learned in school, it was in Wilbur and Orville Wright's bicycle shop in West Dayton where their gliders and the famous 1903 Wright Flyer were designed. Interestingly, the power transfer from the engine to the propellers of that original Flyer used a bicycle-type chain and sprocket assembly.

Cyclists were an active part of the movement for safer American roads, even in the time before cars. When an Irish fellow named Dunlop came up with pneumatic (air-filled) tires, cycling improved even more. A new bike, called the "safety bike," came along in the 1890's. It looked similar to the bikes today with two matching wheels and chain-driven foot power. Then, the races began in earnest!

At the time of Major Taylor's seven (!) world championships, bike racing could be found all around America. In Europe as well, bicycle racing developed and continues to be a significant sport. Gradually, however, many Americans abandoned the bicycle as a competitive or even a serious adult vehicle. Between 1900 and the early '20's, the bicycle went from widespread acceptance to mostly a child's amusement in this country. The reasons are many and have been debated by cycle enthusiasts for years. The biggest reason, of course, was the availability of cars and cheap oil.

In the late '60's, I developed an interest in bikes and their technology. Used, high quality racing bikes were dirt-cheap back then. I was also fascinated by the mechanical aspects of the machine. In the 1950's, an Italian named Tullio Campagnolo had perfected the parallelogram shifting mechanism seen so often today, and 10-speeds were coming into the consumer market, eclipsing the 3-speeds and heavy bikes so common among American children.

In a burst of inspiration fueled by youthful naivete, I wrote to Lakewood's mayor, asking that bicycle races be established in Lakewood during the Lakewood Day festivities. Permission was granted and the races were inaugurated. I was then asked to chair the events.

Two different courses were used around our city over several years. The scariest one was probably down at Lakewood Park, going around the Lakewood Park Oval. There were some really tight turns and it's a wonder everyone survived! Another course was on the finished but as-yet unopened I-90 stretch of the (at that time) freeway-to-nowhere between Lakewood and Rocky River. Cyclists raced on the short stretch between McKinley and the Rocky River side over the bridge spanning the Rocky River Valley.

There were a number of categories, and trophies were awarded for the best riders. As I had a few physical limitations, I could not participate, so I guess I made a good chairperson for the activities. Those of you interested in an article about the event (as well as a rather youthful picture of me) could consult the Lakewood Sun Post from July 17, 1969 on microfilm at the library. It was a lot of fun. Unfortunately, as time passed on, so did the fabulous Lakewood Day Bicycle Races.

These days, cycling seems to be on a comeback. With high gas and oil prices, and with all those fantastic new bikes, more people seem to be out there riding. Old bikes are going for a fortune on the net these days, and interest seems to be growing exponentially regarding this tremendously healthful activity. New safety equipment for cycling also seems to be getting better all the time.

So I would urge you to dust off that old bike and give it a whirl (with the caveat of finding a good helmet first and then having your bike looked over by a competent service professional). Hopefully, the bicycle will continue to excite interest around the streets of Lakewood for many years to come!