Ladies on Bicycles (1899)

Victorian women demonstrate their slalom cycling skills. The precision of the women skilfully negotiating their way around a line of bollards is quite remarkable. Though it's hard not to watch without willing one of them to catch her long white skirt in the bicycle chain.

The film was made by Hepworth and Co and might possibly be one of the items listed appealingly in their catalogue as 'Musical Ride by Ladies' or 'Musical Ride by Ladies - Wheeling'. (Robin Baker)

For more information about filmmaker Cecil Hepworth see http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/450004/index.html

You can watch almost 1000 other complete films and TV programmes from the BFI National Archive free of charge at the new BFI Mediatheque - http://www.bfi.org.uk/mediatheque

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• BFI
• Victorian
• women
• cycling
• bicycles

[burnmetodeath]

Women riding bicycles? How scandalous!!

[ShawnVanAngle]

I don't see how the dresses didn't get caught in the sprockets.

[ManilaSyndicate]

@frfrrrfrrrrrr Nah, it's been pretty much the same ever since. Just some differences on the surface.

[frfrrrfrrrrrr]

@ManilaSyndicate Comaperd to the women today that are Fat , Foul mouthed , Drunk, high on party drugs , single mothers , Cant cook for shit , Pretty much useless .

[ManilaSyndicate]

The fad of the time. The women looked so trim and elegant.

Such a simple scene that's actually over a century old. Amazing.

[charlesnorte]

@ShawnVanAngle You have a good bike´s industries in UK. The rear wheel and the chain had a protection for dresses. We have lady´s Raleigh (1980) to ride.Greetings from Argentina!

[kookaa10]

card games on motorcycles. . . anybody??

[mad00insane]

almost naked nowadays

[Emporator]

I'm certain I saw a hint of bare ankle for a moment - I'm appalled. This is utterly scandalous!