High-Wheeling to Denver - Bikes were a status symbol in 1889,

This is from the April-May, 1971 issue of Frontier Times magazine. I scanned it.

High-Wheeling to Denver

Bikes were a status symbol in 1889

By RUTH ALMY

Photos Courtesy Author

EIGHTY-TWO years ago on June 2, young Joseph Ambruster rolled into Denver on a high-wheeled bike. The front wheel was five feet in diameter and the back one about two. Ordinary bicycles were common in those days, but high-bikes were strictly for he-men and very tricky to ride, especially over rough terrain. Joe pedaled 982 miles from St. Louis to Denver in 26 days, he might have made it in less had it not rained 11 out of those 26.