Importance of Bicycling it the lives of the 1890s Woman

The 1890s was the peak of the American bicycle craze and consumers were buying bicycles in large numbers. Women were attracted to the sport because it allowed them the mobility that they needed to venture out of their own neighborhoods. Cycling was thought of to sexually stimulate women and to cause adverse health effects. They not only gained a sense of freedom but they were able to get around the often restrictive clothing of the day because bicycling required a different kind of attire. The dress reform issue not only changed how women dressed but it challenged how people viewed women and it became a hot point issue. This debate over clothing helped spark the women’s rights movement. Annie adapted her clothing to make the journey possible. Through advertisements and promotion, not only clothing changed but mindsets changed around women.

Annie was a woman ahead of her times and in her own way helped start the conversation that gave today’s modern women the freedoms that we enjoy without even thinking about it.

There are always fascinating things to learn about people but Annie was a young woman with an amazing spirit who made things work. She took on the world at a time when women were regulated to their homes and families. Under the age of 26, she saw the world, had a family and started a career. Even though her career and trip was short lived, her influence remains strong with us today.

Influence of Annie on Bicycling Culture

Annie's journey made it possible for women to have freedom found on two wheels. She not only started the movement to change attitudes but changed the way that women dressed for athletics, the type of bicycles that women used and showed that women could live without the protection of man. Gone were the days of women wearing corsets for cycling and having heavy bicycles to deal with. She helped usher in the era of bloomers and lighter bicycles. Today, women can freely bicycle ride in appropriate clothing without stigma. Annie not only accomplished her goal but she left a legacy of women traveling. She opened up a door for women to gain independence and travel by their wits and taking care of issues as they arose. Not only did she make this happen, she used her wits and a gun to protect herself. Today, I don't typically carry a gun with me while cycling but I am aware of the dangers of bicycling alone.

We can't confirm all of the stories that Annie told but we can admire her for taking on a male dominated culture and making it work for her. Annie was a storyteller and understood the power of marketing. Through her journey, she got to experience freedom that most women could have only dreamed of. There isn't a lot of information on Annie but we can't deny that she was a woman ahead of her time and paved the way for the women's movement.

REFERENCES

Women on Wheels: The Bicycle and the Women’s Movement in the 1890s. Annie Londonderry Archive. Retrieved June 21, 2019

How Bicycles Changed Women's Lives:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-Qv9TfG6dw

How Bicycles Boosted the Women's Movement

• https://youtu.be/LPLJgkVsXpE

How Bicycles Paved the Way

• https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/06/the-technology-craze-of-the-1890s-that-forever-changed-womens-rights/373535/

How the Bicycle Change the World for Women

• http://www.cnn.com/2011/LIVING/06/06/women.bicycle/index.html

Feminist History of Bicycles:

• https://www.bustle.com/p/the-feminist-history-of-bicycles-57455