Join us in the Central Library Microsoft Auditorium on July 11th at 7 p.m. as we welcome bicycle historian, David V. Herlihy, author of The Lost Cyclist: The Epic Tale of An American Adventurer and His Mysterious Disappearance and Bicycle: The History. Herlihy will present a selection of historical photographs of early bicycle tourists, Thomas Allen and William Sachtleben, from UCLA’s special collections.
In addition, the author will provide a glimpse into the life and times of adventurous 19th century “wheelmen,” young men who could withstand bone-jarring discomfort in exchange for the excitement of cycling. Herlihy’s recent book tells the story of one of those young men, handsome bookkeeper Frank Lenz, who decided to set out on his own to circle the globe. His method of travel was a new “safety,” the straightforward term for bicycles as we know them now, with wheels of the same size.
Fellow wheelmen Allen and Sachtleben had performed this feat in 1890, but had taken convenient and safe shortcuts when they felt it necessary. Lenz, however, was stubborn and undeterred, even in the face of political unrest in the Ottoman Empire, and he insisted on cycling or walking the entire 20,000 miles. Just short of reaching his goal of circling the globe, Lenz disappeared in Turkey and was never heard from again. The story continues with veteran bicycle traveler William Sachtleben returning to Turkey to discover what he could of the missing cyclist, at the behest of Outing magazine.
What led to Lenz’s disappearance, and who was responsible? Herlihy’s tale transports us back in time to understand the freedom and exhilaration these young men felt as they pedaled away on their adventures.
The recently discovered photographs of Allen and Sachtleben from their 1890-93 world tour are the highlight of this program. Photography was still a relatively new technology at the time, and these images depict places and people that were rarely visited, much less photographed by Westerners.
Interested in reading other tales of global cycling adventures? Check out this list of great cycling histories in the catalog!
~ Alison D., Central Library
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