Menu

Cycle Heritage Leicester

The aim of Cycle Heritage Leicester is to highlight the important part the city has played in the social development of cycling in the UK. For a long time Leicester's cycling heritage has been overshadowed by large-scale bicycle manufacture in neighbouring cities.

George Harry Moore's shop was on Bradgate Road, Anstey and is pictured around 1900. Picture courtesy of Leicester Museums Service	Harry Woodward's self built recumbent, possibly the first in Leicester (picture taken outside his shop on Needham Street in October 1934)

The aim of Cycle Heritage Leicester is to highlight the important part the city has played in the social development of cycling in the UK. For a long time Leicester's cycling heritage has been overshadowed by large-scale bicycle manufacture in neighbouring cities. 

Starting in January 2004 the project is researching and recording the rich and varied cycling history of Leicester, from the world famous racing stadiums of the 1880's through to unique events such as the recent Spokesfests and the world's largest gathering of Penny Farthings for more than 120 years.

 Working with schools and community groups the project will record a wide variety of memories from current and former cyclists, and also research the history of the city's many cycling clubs, retailers, manufactures and well known figures. The project will also celebrate cycling history with events and exhibitions of photography, research, bicycles and ephemeron. In conjunction with Leicester Museum Service a web based archive of photographs and historic documents will be created. 

Cyclists Winifred Percy and friend, in about 1900  picture courtesy of Leicester Museums Service	World record breaking Penny Farthing Gathering, Abbey Park, Leicester

The project has the support of Leicester Museum Service, Leicester City Council, Leicester University, Sustrans, the Association of Industrial Archaeology and numerous local cycling and community groups. 

A cycle history roadshow is available to give light hearted talks on the development of the bicycle, dispelling a number of myths in the process and giving people a chance to ride recreations of several early bicycles. 

Further details and roadshow bookings can be made by contacting Roger Lovell, Project Manager.