From 1888 to 1895, American cycling underwent a transformative journey from clunky three-wheel tricycles to sleek and efficient two-wheel bicycles, marking a pivotal moment in the history of women’s cycling. The introduction of the "safety" bike, with its equal-sized wheels, replaced the cumbersome big-wheel “ordinary” contraption, and made cycling more accessible to women and reshaped the social and cultural landscape. The transition from sitting securely on three wheels to balancing precariously on two wheels was met with skepticism and intrigue. The novel concept of forward momentum and equilibrium presented challenges in conveying its simplicity, especially to those unfamiliar with the experience. Steering remained a mystery, and the restrictive nature of women’s skirts posed a significant obstacle to mounting a saddle and pedaling. The emergence of the "drop frame" (later known as a "girl's bike"), invented to accommodate women's fashions, was countered by advances in the dress reform movement and a public outcry over the adoption of bloomers and knickerbockers. This volume of the Sports She Wrote series presents 86 articles (121,000 words) and 79 illustrations from this era, subdivided into four sections: Part 1 features ten articles by Grace E. Denison, a notable figure in the cycling community and one of the “Sweet Sixteen” founders of the Canadian Women’s Press Club. Part 2 focuses on the life and writings of Mary Sargent Hopkins, also known as "Merrie Wheeler," one of the most influential women bicyclists of the era, who is also prominent in other volumes of this series. Part 3 presents 38 chronological articles written by more than two dozen women from 1888 to 1895, providing diverse perspectives and lively debate. Part 4 features 53-year-old women’s rights advocate Frances E. Willard's seminal book, How I Learned to Ride the Wheel, offering psychological and philosophical insight into women’s empowerment through cycling, as well as practical advice for women learning to ride and those who were too timid to try. Sports She Wrote is a 31-volume time-capsule of primary documents written by more than 500 women in the 19th century, including nine volumes on cycling.

This volume of the Sports She Wrote series completes the nine-volume chronological journey of 19th century cycling articles written by women. By the end of the century, the bicycling craze transitioned from a fleeting fad into a deeply ingrained aspect of American culture. Bicycles were no longer mere novelties but essential methods of transportation for the masses, sources of physical exercise, and vehicles for leisure and sports. Forty-eight articles (102,000 words) authored by dozens of women writers and 38 illustrations from 20 periodicals offer insightful discourse on the state and development of women’s cycling. These articles offer a multifaceted exploration of various cycling topics, reflecting the evolving attitudes and practices surrounding the sport. The final cycling article, published in 1900, is emblematic of the progress made and the future prospect for athletic cycling, focusing on women’s “fancy riding,” now known as trick riding. This volume includes the comprehensive book “Bicycling for Ladies,” written by Maria E. Ward, published in 1896. With 34 accompanying photographs, Ward's book serves as a testament to the vibrancy and diversity of cycling culture during this pivotal period in history. In addition to the basics of riding, Ward provides detailed instructions for maintenance and repair of bicycles and demonstrates how to use the necessary tools that many women of the era were unaccustomed to using. The volume concludes with a foretaste of the future penned by Mary Sargent Hopkins, whose cycling articles are featured in several volumes of this series, but in this case introduces readers to a new wheeled contraption destined to revolutionize independent transportation—the automobile. Sports She Wrote is a 31-volume time-capsule of primary documents written by more than 500 women in the 19th century, including nine volumes on cycling.

Three-wheelers kickstarted the cycling fad for women in the 1880s. Two-wheelers at the time were the old-time high-wheel “ordinaries” or “penny-farthings,” which were difficult for most women to mount and impossible to pedal in long dresses. This volume of the Sports She Wrote series features 90 articles (148,000 words) from 1881 to 1888, when tricycles were the most popular mode of transportation for women (and many men) seeking independent mobility on wheels. Three-wheel designs varied greatly, from single operator to dual rider models, called “sociables” in which the riders sat side-by-side, and “tandems” with riders seated front and back. Wheel sizes and alignments also differed as manufacturers sought the most efficient mechanisms for pedaling, steering and braking. Early tricycles were heavy and cumbersome, weighing up to 100 pounds. The weight gradually decreased as manufacturing and metallurgical methods improved. The first 49 articles in this volume, span the heyday of tricycling, covering the lively debate over women's embrace of the wheel, proper riding attire, and adventures on the road. Contributors include the popular cycling writers Mary Sargent Hopkins and Minna Caroline Smith. Five diary-style entries follow, written by Amy Hurlston of England. The volume closes with an obscure column, “Woman on a Tricycle,” published in The Sunday Leader newspaper in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The anonymous author is a spirited iconoclast who challenged societal norms with unapologetic rebellion. She offers unfiltered regional observations on broader cultural issues as well as keen details about cycling. Sports She Wrote is a 31-volume time-capsule of primary documents written by more than 500 women in the 19th century, including nine volumes on cycling.

The cycling fad in the late 19th century spawned journals aimed at the growing masses of men and women on wheels. This volume of the Sports She Wrote series features a lively rivalry between writers in two prominent cycling journals, The Bicycling World & L.A.W. Bulletin (founded in 1878) and The Wheel and Cycling Trade Review (founded in 1888). Cycling was in the midst of a transition from tricycles to the high-wheel “ordinary” to the modern two-wheel "safety" bicycle. The 174 articles (126,000 words) written by correspondents in this volume often resemble the 19th-century version of social media trolling. Many writers used pseudonyms or their League of American Wheelmen badge numbers rather than their real names. Bylines include Helen Grey, Violet Lorne, and Lillias Campbell Davidson, as well as pennames “Psyche,” “Pioneer,” “Caviler,” “Wildflower,” and “Pony,” all confirmed to be women. A handful of writings by men are also included as they instigate or pertain to the discussions between the women. Among the primary topics was women's attire, which led to the invention of the "drop-frame” (later known as a “girl’s bike”) to accommodate long skirts, but hems still got caught in the chains and gears. Dress reform and the adoption of bloomers and knickerbockers became a heated controversy debated in several articles. Women's cycling mirrored societal changes, reflecting broader shifts in women's roles and expectations for the “New Woman” in the Victorian Era. Sports She Wrote is a 31-volume time-capsule of primary documents written by more than 500 women in the 19th century, including nine volumes on cycling.

One of the most impactful features of the bicycle in the late 19th century was its expansion of travel opportunities off the beaten path. The articles and books (104,000 words) in this volume of the Sports She Wrote series are a blend of travelogue and cycling adventures, capturing the essence of wheeled touring through women's narratives. Their accounts describe the complexities of long-distance cycling through native and foreign lands and depict the cultures encountered along the way, providing pioneering guidebooks for fellow cyclists to follow and valuable advice for women awheel. Bicycling evolved in the 1890s beyond mere transportation into a source of newfound independence for women, a means of exploration and adventure according to the rider’s own schedule, enabling enthusiasts to tour areas inaccessible by railroads, free from stagecoach lines and mass transit constraints, without the cost and maintenance responsibilities of a horse. This new mobility sparked a social movement for road infrastructure improvements, which were essential to the forthcoming automobile era. The initial section features articles and illustrations from 1896 to 1898, including Margaret Valentine Le Long's remarkable solo journey from Chicago to San Francisco. This is followed by two books by Fanny Bullock Workman and her husband William Workman. Their literary contributions, Algerian Memories (1895) and Sketches Awheel in Modern Iberia (1897), including dozens of Fanny's photographs, provide visual and narrative journeys through North Africa and Spain. Fanny was a New Woman and an advocate for women’s suffrage. She was also a noted mountain climber and her book In the Ice World of Himalaya is featured in the Mountaineering volume of the Sports She Wrote series. These narratives celebrate the bicycle's role in alternative vacation options for active men and women, leaving a lasting impact on late 19th-century women's cycling history in America and around the world. Sports She Wrote is a 31-volume time-capsule of primary documents written by more than 500 women in the 19th century, including nine volumes on cycling.

“Daisie” was the penname for Helen Drew Bassett, America’s first prominent woman cycling columnist during the era of the three-wheeler. She was married to Abbot Bassett, longtime secretary of the League of American Wheelmen (L. A. W.), and editor of several cycling trade journals. This volume of the Sports She Wrote series features Daisie’s column, “From A Feminine Point of View,” which spanned three publications from May 1885 to February 1888 (124,000 words). A trailblazing tricyclist and avid promoter of wheeling, she finally embraced the inevitability of the two-wheeler in her final column. Daisie was an early convert to women on wheels. She organized women’s cycling tours and welcomed diverse opinions in her column involving the evolution of the machine, cycling etiquette, and discussions about proper cycling attire. Her compatriots in cycling literature quoted in her column include Mary Sargent Hopkins, Minna Caroline Smith, Ida Trafford Bell, Violet Lorne, and Marguerite Kirkland. Commentaries by several male contributors are also included as they relate to Daisie’s topics. The volume concludes with Daisie's article in Outing magazine, describing the “Ladies’ Eastern Tricycle Tour” in 1888. Her legacy persists not only in her articles but also in the spirited debates and community she fostered within the cycling world, leaving an indelible mark on the early history of women’s cycling in America. Sports She Wrote is a 31-volume time-capsule of primary documents written by more than 500 women in the 19th century, including nine volumes on cycling.

1896 marked the peak of the bicycling craze in America, as reflected in the 119 articles and 72 illustrations (118,000 words) in this volume of the Sports She Wrote series. Bikes became essential for women of all classes, influencing social norms, practical transportation and the dress reform movement. The debate over the best model bicycle for women to ride (including the “drop frame,” now known as a “girl’s bike”) and proper cycling attire raged on, led by Mary Sargent Hopkins, a prominent advocate known as "Merrie Wheeler." Her column in The Ladies’ World highlighted cycling's prominence. A series of 18 articles by Olivia Howard Dunbar and 11 articles by Ida Trafford Bell published in bicycle journals offer insight into cycling in America. Harper’s Bazar’s featured a "Bicycling Number," further documenting the importance of wheeling at the time. Celebrities and high society’s embrace of the two-wheeler boosted its popularity among women nationwide. Twenty articles highlight Charlotte Smith's harsh critique on the immorality of cycling for women. Her tirade sparked emotional debates about a woman's freedom to travel independently without a chaperone but had little impact on diminishing the fad. Despite the controversy, cycling's popularity persisted, though the craze waned in later years as cycling became a utilitarian form of transportation for the masses and was soon superseded by the automobile. This volume also includes reports of international bike races by Mrs. Eck, the wife of the American team manager, long-distance tours by couples, and four works of bicycling fiction from various magazines, written by women and published in 1896. Sports She Wrote is a 31-volume time-capsule of primary documents written by more than 500 women in the 19th century, including nine volumes on cycling.