Bicycle humor from the 1890s

With the future of civilization hanging in the balance of our two skinny bicycle tires, it’s easy for us to take ourselves too seriously.

Puck Magazine

I don’t know if that was the case in the 1890s, when the “modern” style bicycle first became popular. But cartoonists of that era found the bicycle was a good vehicle for satirical art.

Today, that legacy is carried forward by Yehuda Moon’s Kickstand Comics.

Bicycle historian David V. Herlihy says that he stumbled across many caricatures of bicyclists and their vehicles while researching his book: “Bicycle: the History.”

He tells Forbes.com that satirical weekly Puck Magazine published frequent humorous views of bicycling. He’ll be presenting a free slideshow “Puck’s” Take on the Bicycle Boom of the 1890s” from 7 p.m. Monday at the Soho REI in New York City. The building is the site where Puck’s Magazine was published.

Herlihy describes the art:

“Some of the concerns reflected—ill effects of too much cycling, improper female attire, and skipping church service—do not strike me as highly topical today. On the other hand, some of the issues are indeed very relevant, such as how cycling can offer much needed outdoor exercise, a practical means of transportation, a social outlet, etc.”

Puck Magazine cartoon

There are examples of bicycle caricatures in the Forbes article.

Also, I found original Puck Magazine illustrations from the 1800s that use bicycles in political cartoons available at BicycleGifts.com.