3-021-065 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Bicycle tournament at Liverpool, 1869. 'The amusing exercise of riding upon the two-wheeled velocipede, or bicycle, has been taken up by the enterprising gentlemen of Liverpool with extraordinary spirit. The Liverpool Velocipede Club...has enrolled a large number of active members...[The bicycle tournament was] conducted by Mr. John Hulley...The sports were performed under the direction of Mr. Anderson, master-of-arms at the gymnasium. The bicycle practice embraced tilting at the ring, throwing the javelin, fencing with swords, sundry evolutions, and what was described as fancy riding. In all these feats the velocipedeans [ie cyclists] displayed perfect mastery of the machine, guiding it with the left hand. Ten tilts were allowed at the ring, the winner being the competitor who took off the greatest number. The rings were suspended from a beam, and the competitors in a number of instances very skilfully bore them o ff upon their lances, and in most other cases they were displaced, if not actually carried off. Mr. R. W. Leyland proved the most dexterous in this game, and gained the prize, having borne off the ring six times out of ten tilts. In the throwing of the javelin also great skill was displayed'. From "Illustrated London News", 1869.