Bicycle celebrates little-known 200th anniversary
Domazan : For the next month the eyes of the sporting world will be on the Tour de France, yet few people know what a significant year this is for the bicycle.
Much to the chagrin of amateur historian Claude Reynaud, the 200th anniversary of the invention of the bicycle is likely to pass by with little pomp or fanfare as millions of pairs of eyes gaze at television screens or from the roadside to watch Chris Froome and his rivals battle for yellow jersey glory.
And yet, the 104th edition of the world’s most prestigious cycle race starts in Dusseldorf on Saturday, in the country where 200 years ago Baron Karl Drais invented the bicycle.
Billions of people use bicycles, many on a daily basis, and yet few are aware of this important milestone.
“No-one is celebrating it because the information is unknown,” complained Reynaud, a viticulturist from the south east of France.
“While the Tour de France starts in Dusseldorf this year, when the Grand Boucle presented its route, no-one evoked the bicentenary -- it’s unknown outside of a small circle of initiates.”
Reynaud has fought a 50-year battle to defend the memory of the invention of the bicycle.
He even houses a museum in its honour at his chateau in Domazan, in the Occitanie region of France.
“I could talk about it for hours,” Reynaud said of the history of the bicycle, his gravelly voice almost drowned out by the sound of crickets.
He has written several self-published books on the subject that are sold only at his chateau.
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