The1890swasthepeakoftheAmericanbicyclecraze,andconsumers,includingwomen,werebuyingbicyclesinlargenumbers.Despitecriticswhotriedtodiscouragewomenfromtryingthisnewsport,womentooktothebikeinhugenumbers,andmasteryofthebicyclebecameametaphorforwomen’smasteryovertheirlives.Spurredbytheemergenceofthe“safety“bicycleandtheensuingculturalcraze,women’sprofessionalbicycleracingthrivedintheUnitedStatesfrom1895to1902.Forsevenyears,femaleracersdrewlargeandenthusiasticcrowdsacrossthecountry,includingCleveland,Detroit,Indianapolis,Chicago,Minneapolis,St.Louis,KansasCity,andNewOrleans--andmanysmallercitiesinbetween.Unlikethetrudging,round-the-clockmarathonsthemen(andtheirspectators)endured,women’ssix-dayracesweretightlyscheduled,fast-paced,andhighlycompetitive.Thebestfemaleracersoftheera--TillieAnderson,LizzieGlaw,andDottieFarnsworth--becamehouseholdnamesandwereAmerica’sfirstgreatwomenathletes.DespiteconcertedeffortsbytheLeagueofAmericanWheelmentomarginalizethesportandbyreportersandothercriticstobelittleandobjectifythewomen,theseathletesforcedturn-of-the-centuryAmericatorethinkstronglyheldconvictionsaboutfemalefrailtyandcompetitivespirit.By1900manycitiesbegantobanthemen’ssix-dayraces,anditbecamemoredifficulttoensurecompetitivewomen’sracesandattractlargeenoughcrowds.In1902tworacersdied,andthesport’sseven-yearrunwasfinished--andithasbeenalmostentirelyignoredinsportshistory,women’shistory,andevenbicyclinghistory.WomenontheMovetellsthefullstoryofAmerica’smostpopulararenasportduringthe1890s,givingthesepioneeringathletestheplacetheydeserveinhistory.Purchasetheaudioedition.
LOUIS MINNEAPOLIS ST MOVE St.Louis Chicago SAFETY DETROIT FAST WOMEN
![PENTAX SMC DA 17－70mm F4 AL [IF] SDM（公司貨）](https://avividseo.kingstone.com.tw/avivid/assets/img/loading.svg)
