MOUNTAIN BIKING-CIRCA 1890's

[OLDNAVYMCPO]

Three important facets of any military operation is to move, shoot and communicate. From foot soldiers to helo borne Air Assault, the military constantly searches for better ways to move men and material from point "A" to point"B".

The Civil War saw the advent of troop and material movement by steam locomotive and the rapid expansion of railroads.

In the period following the Civil War, the bicycle became a popular mode of civilian transportation.

An avid cyclist and seeing it's possible military potential was a Lt. James A. Moss, a West Point graduate. Moss convinced Maj Gen Nelson Miles to allow him to pursue the idea of troop mounted cyclist.

Moss was placed in command of a special unit, the 25th Infantry Bicycle Corps, to test the feasibility of bicycle mounted troops.

The test unit consisted of Moss, twenty black troopers and a local reporter, Edward Boos. Bicycles were supplied by the Spalding Bicycle Co.

The first experimental ride was from Fort Missoula, Montana to Yellowstone Natl Park and back in 1896. The second trip was from Fort Missoula to Saint Louis in 1897.

The bikes were ungainly, weighing 35 pounds plus a cargo of 20+ pounds. The wheels alone were 6 pounds each.

The story of the trials and tribulations of the two trips is of epic proportions.

The Spanish American War ended the experiment.

 

[snubbyfan]

I remembered my Dad telling me what the American Indians said when they first saw a bicycle, "white man so lazy, he even sit down to run."
Now I sit down to ride a stationary bike that goes nowhere.

 

[bigwheelzip]

The concept of bicycle mounted infantry may seem quaint in modern warfare, but during the years I lived in Switzerland, I witnessed their operations several times. Units moved stealthily across the land on an extensive and well maintained national trail system.

The Bicycle Infantry were disbanded in 2003, but in 2015 the Defense Minister announced the reconstitution of the units, citing the superb fitness level achieved by these self-propelled troops.

The Swiss Army Bicycle Did All That, and More - BikeShopHub.com

 

[gunnails]

Colonel Moss and his men.

 

[6518John]

I can hear the enemy sergeant—“throw the roofing nails boy’s, they are riding bicycles!”

 

[Jessie]

I think Germany made use of them in WWII.

 

[jlrhiner]

As did Japan. As a matter of fact, the bicycle was credited with helping the Imperial Army move so rapidly down the Malay Peninsula at the outbreak of WW2.

 

[kwselke]

Better than walking to the fight. Not as good as taking the train, or as cool as horses.

 

[kwselke]

If you think 1890s bikes were strange, check out the camel experiment prior to the Civil War. The Great Camel Experiment - Texas Highways

 

[Marshwheeling]

A few years ago, I read a book about a guy who rode a penny-farthing, either across Asia, or around the world, I forget exactly which. He carried a revolver, a .32 caliber Smith and Wesson, if I recall correctly, and did have occasion to use it. If I said it was in Afghanistan, I wouldn’t be far off. That is a place that has often been deadly to travelers.

With a 60” wheel, pedal effort would have been equivalent to second gear on a British 3-speed, so a fair amount of walking was called for.

 

[snubbyfan]

Meanwhile, 'bout a hundred years later, there's some crazy Injun getting ready to fall off a big rock on his custom home built mountain bike.

 

[Usmc5811]

If you think 1890s bikes were strange, check out the camel experiment prior to the Civil War. The Great Camel Experiment - Texas Highways

My father has one of the bells from the “Camel Corps”. A little larger then the horse bells. Didn’t even know the US had a camel regiment until he showed me the bell.