History of the bicycle

[[File:BicyclePlymouth.jpg|thumb|left|Bicycle in Plymouth, England at the start of the 20th century]]

[[File:BicyclePlymouth.jpg|thumb|left|Bicycle in Plymouth, England at the start of the 20th century]]

The ladies’ version of the roadster’s design was very much in place by the 1890s. It had a [[step-through frame]] rather than the diamond frame of the gentlemen’s model so that ladies, with their dresses and skirts, could easily mount and ride their bicycles, and commonly came with a skirt guard to prevent skirts and dresses becoming entangled in the rear wheel and spokes. As with the gents’ roadster, the frame was of steel construction and the positioning of the frame and handlebars gave the rider a very upright riding position. Though they originally came with front spoon-brakes, technological advancements meant that later models were equipped with the much-improved coaster brakes or rod-actuated rim or drum-brakes.

The ladies’ version of the roadster’s design was very much in place by the 1890s. It had a [[step-through frame]] rather than the diamond frame of the gentlemen’s model so that ladies, with their dresses and skirts, could easily mount and ride their bicycles, and commonly came with a skirt guard to prevent skirts and dresses becoming entangled in the rear wheel and spokes. As with the gents’ roadster, the frame was of steel construction and the positioning of the frame and handlebars gave the rider a very upright riding position. Though they originally came with front spoon-brakes, technological advancements meant that later models were equipped with the much-improved coaster brakes or rod-actuated rim or drum-brakes.

<blockquote>The Dutch cycle industry grew rapidly from the 1890s onwards. Since by then it was the British who had the strongest and best-developed market in bike design, Dutch framemakers either copied them or imported them from England. In 1895, 85 percent of all bikes bought in the Netherlands were from Britain; the vestiges of that influence can still be seen in the solid, gentlemanly shape of a traditional Dutch bike even now.</blockquote><ref>Bathurst, Bella ”The Bicycle Book” (Harperpress, 2012)</ref>

<blockquote>The Dutch cycle industry grew rapidly from the 1890s onwards. Since by then it was the British who had the strongest and best-developed market in bike design, Dutch framemakers either copied them or imported them from England. In 1895, 85 percent of all bikes bought in the Netherlands were from Britain; the vestiges of that influence can still be seen in the shape of a traditional Dutch bike even now.</blockquote><ref>Bathurst, Bella ”The Bicycle Book” (Harperpress, 2012)</ref>

[[File:Ellimans-Universal-Embrocation-Slough-1897-Ad.png|thumb|1897]]

[[File:Ellimans-Universal-Embrocation-Slough-1897-Ad.png|thumb|1897]]

Though the ladies’ version of the roadster largely fell out of fashion in England and many other Western nations as the 20th century progressed, it remains popular in the Netherlands; this is why some people refer to bicycles of this design as Dutch bikes. In Dutch the name of these bicycles is Omafiets (“grandma’s bike”).

Though the ladies’ version of the roadster largely fell out of fashion in England and many other Western nations as the 20th century progressed, it remains popular in the Netherlands; this is why some people refer to bicycles of this design as Dutch bikes. In Dutch the name of these bicycles is Omafiets (“grandma’s bike”).