Hello,
In September 1893, sixteen year old Tessie Reynolds from Brighton rode a bicycle to London’s Hyde Park and back in a little over eight and a half hours, thus setting a new record for the distance. Her feat caused outrage and split not only the cycling world but society down the middle.
For weeks after, Cycling magazine was full of condemnation with journalists and readers claiming she would damage the image of cycling, not only for setting the record and riding in such an unladylike manner but also because she rode a gents bike and wore a cycling costume of masculine appearance – ie bloomers over a long jacket.
However, the rival Wheeler magazine had nothing but praise for her and ran a full page editorial accusing those against her of hypocrisy. The popular Lady Pictorial magazine featured her but dare not print an image of Tessie sitting on her own bike so arranged another with a ladies machine. Satirists even drew cartoons of her in cycling and society magazines.
Within a couple of years of Tessie’s ride major cycle races for ladies were being held in both London and Paris with match races between the two countries for the World Championships and ‘Rational’ dress for female cyclists was generally excepted. Tessie appears to have turned professional the following year and, in competition with other female cyclists, lowered her record by over an hour.
Whilst details of the ride and its fallout are recorded, little is known about Tessie herself, what became her or what the people of Brighton thought about her ride.
I am therefore launching an appeal for any descendants or people who may remember her in later life to get in touch so that the full story of this plucky girl can be told. Also, for any local help to look through archives until I have a chance to visit Brighton for a couple of days.
Kind regards,
Roger Lovell
Cyclemagic
Leicester
0116 262 5551
info@cyclemagic.org.uk
