During the latter part of the nineteenth century, the widespread adoption of the bicycle heralded a new era of individual liberty and societal shifts. While the bicycle offered profound advantages, it simultaneously ignited public apprehension, leading to the invention of a range of imaginary medical conditions associated with its use. Yet, the enduring appeal of cycling, whether through its role in broadening social connections in agrarian communities or offering a rejuvenating experience to individuals across generations, has consistently underscored its timeless allure and transformative power.
The modern bicycle, evolving from its pedal-less predecessors of the early 19th century, gained significant traction in the 1890s. This marked a pivotal moment when the cumbersome penny-farthing gave way to the more accessible safety bicycle, opening up new horizons for ordinary citizens who previously lacked efficient means of travel. This technological leap dramatically increased mobility, particularly for those in rural areas, enabling them to venture further afield and, notably, to broaden their selection of marriage partners, a phenomenon geneticist Steve Jones highlights as a significant factor in human evolution.
However, this burgeoning popularity was met with considerable skepticism and even hostility. Newspapers of the era, such as Punch, published articles like 'Wheel Wictims' in 1897, which hyperbolically suggested that daring activities like 'bathing in the whirlpools of Niagara' were safer than cycling. Cyclists faced genuine dangers, from 'roughs' who sabotaged roads with timber and string traps, to an 'overzealous' police force that would conduct arbitrary arrests for 'furious riding,' employing tactics as dramatic as ambushing riders from hedges.
The deep-seated societal unease surrounding the bicycle manifested in a curious array of fabricated illnesses. Terms like 'bicycle eye,' 'bicycle arm,' and 'bicycle heart' became common parlance, describing supposed afflictions resulting from riding. 'Bicycle eye,' for instance, was attributed to the hunched riding posture, believed to strain optic nerves. An Italian physician even claimed that cycling for 32 miles temporarily impaired the hearing of 24 men, coining the term 'bicycle ear.' The unfamiliar sight of cyclists leaning forward on handlebars led to warnings of 'bicycle neck' and 'bicycle back.'
The most infamous of these invented maladies was 'bicycle face,' which was thought to cause severe disfigurement. C.A. Pearson’s account in Pearson’s Weekly described it as a consequence of 'constant anxiety, everlasting looking ahead, and the strain on a nervous disposition,' resulting in a 'haggard, anxious expression.' Despite these sensationalized claims, Cycling magazine offered a more positive counter-narrative, observing that sustained cycling actually improved complexions. The scrutiny extended to women, with warnings against 'bicycle hand' and 'bicycle foot,' reflecting deep-seated anxieties about female participation in public life.
Ultimately, the widespread concerns surrounding the bicycle were a direct response to its revolutionary nature. Beyond being a mere mode of transportation, it served as a catalyst for profound social transformation. A female cyclist in 1899 famously declared the bicycle to be 'the women's emancipator,' symbolizing newfound independence and freedom of movement. The adoption of practical attire like knickerbockers by female cyclists, initially scandalous, gradually became normalized. This period of intense social and technological change, marked by both irrational fears and genuine liberation, underscores the bicycle's lasting legacy.