Roger Lovell of Cycle Magic: Origins of the Cycle Industry

The forty years following the introduction of the bicycle into England was a time of great opportunity for manufacturers, entrepreneurs and inventors alike. The constant race to develop a better machine led to a wide range of new designs, although not all of them were either commercially viable or an improvement on the current model.

A company backing the wrong design or failing to predict a new trend could soon find itself with an outdated product and many of them went out of business. Those making the correct choices were rewarded with a greater market share, a recognised brand name and a long-term future in the development of the bicycle.

Roger Lovell delved into the evolution of cycling from 1868 to 1900 and look at many of the unsuccessful attempts to produce the perfect bicycle.

See the gallery below for images of the event.