˜Theœ Emergence of Bicycling and Automobility in Britain

In the late 19th century, bicyling and motoring offered new ways for a hardy minority to travel. Escaping from the 'tyranny' of the train timetables, these entrepreneurs were able to promote private mobility when the road, technology and infrastructure were unequal to the task. With a moribund network out of town, poor roadside accommodation and few services, how could road traction persist and ultimately thrive? Drawing on a wealth of primary sources, including magazines, newspapers and advice books on stable management, this book explores the emergence and development of bicycling and automobility in Britain, with a focus on the racing driver-cum-entrepreneur SF Edge (1868-1940) and his network. Craig Horner considers the motivations, prejudices and cultures of those who promoted and consumed road traction, providing new insights into social class, leisure, sport and tourism in Britain. In addition, he places early British bicycling and automobility in an international context, providing fruitful comparisons with the movements in France, Germany and the United States. The Emergence of Bicycling and Automobility in Britain is an excellent resource for scholars and students interested in mobility studies, social and cultural history, and the history of technology. Title Page Copyright Page Contents Figures Acknowledgements Chapter 1: Introduction Finding the open road Entrepreneurs Historiography and sources Layout of the book Chapter 2: Resistance to change Late-Victorian Britain and the motor industry Horse traction Resistance Accommodation Clubs Class in cycling and motoring Conclusions Chapter 3: Entrepreneurs Cycling background Graft and learning The celebrity of the cycling ‘crack’ Background in business and sales Entrepreneurial women Political inclination Concluding remarks Chapter 4: Trials The Thousand Mile Trial: Providing information for press and consumer Sustaining interest in trials The local clubs and public trials Customer experience The Motor’s Trial, 1903 Conclusions Chapter 5: The ‘old brigade’ and the new ‘steady and careful artisan’ Diversity and standardization Trading up The Motor Running costs Strategies for buying The rise of the consumer Women Conclusions Chapter 6: Tourists ‘Real’ tourists The ‘consumer’s’ tour Encroachment, blight and the working classes Speed trapping Conclusions Chapter 7: Futures New possibilities beyond motoring Futures: for whom? The light car for 100 pounds ‘New motoring’ Imagining the road network The persistence of the horse Conclusions Chapter 8: Conclusion Bibliography Primary sources Secondary sources Appendix: Biography Index An exploration of the emergence and development of bicycling and automobility in modern Britain, with a focus on SF Edge and his network of entrepreneurs.