The 11th International Cycle History Conference

Summarized by Carl & Clary Burgwardt, NY
presented here by Pedaling History Bicycle Museum

Nearly 50 attendees from a dozen or more countries came together at the 11th ICHC that was held August 22-25 in Osaka, Japan, at the world headquarters of the Shimano Company. The conference hit a new high with 26 papers presented by bicycle historians and researchers from 9 countries.

Frank Berto, lead author of The Dancing Chain: a History of Bicycle Gearing, organized the 11th conference program and deserves congratulations and commendation for the most successful ICH Conference to date. At the conference Frank presented a paper titled "History Repeats: Reincarnations of old gear trains" pointing out such items as elliptical sprockets, shaft drives, and other bicycle gearing devices developed a hundred years ago. All of these ideas didn't prove successful years ago yet through the years since, and still today, they keep coming back in "new" adaptations that are little or no better than the original. It pointed up that if we don't learn history we are doomed to repeat the same mistakes.

Several outstanding presentations included several papers on Japanese bicycle history, not just by Japanese but also by English and American researchers. Additionally, "How Many Bicycles? U. S. Production from 1875-1915" was presented by Bruce Epperson and "What the Papers Say: Accuracy of Cycle History" was presented by John Pinkerton; these presentations suggested that exaggerations were most likely made to enhance production figures. Other papers included bicycle racing and many other topics. The papers will be published in the spring of 2001, as has been the practice of all the previous Conferences.

A highlight of the conference was a hands on tour of the Shimano factory where white gloves were handed out so that we could all pick up and handle parts along the manufacturing process. This was a real eye opener tour for most as Shimano is the world's largest producer of bicycle components -- hubs, shifters, gears, brakes, etc. that are used on the millions of bicycles made each year by hundreds of bicycle manufacturers. Shimano makes 40%-50% of these bicycle components. That percentage represents nearly 90% of the bicycle components made outside of China. Shimano also produces fishing reels and auto parts for some Japanese automakers, but 75% of their production is bicycle components. A peek into the Research and Development department was included as well as a tour of the Shimano Bicycle Museum. Mr. & Mrs. Yoshizo Shimano hosted and attended conference welcome and farewell banquets as well as offered the participants a traditional Japanese kneeling luncheon at the Shimano Memorial House, the family homestead.

A typical Japanese"commuter" bicycle ride by several attendees the day following the conference in a humid and exhausting 100 degrees temperature included a Japanese tea ceremony and a Japanese Memorial Garden Park visit. A stop at the Bicycle Center was a delightful surprise and a rewarding experience. This was a magnificently designed and well-groomed park like facility the size of half a football field dedicated solely for a hands- and body-on-bicycle ride experience. Reproduction vintage draisines, quadricycles, tricycles, and bicycles are available for riding on; however, the prime purpose of the facility is to quickly teach young children (as well as adults) bicycle riding without the use of training wheels. Entering the facility's gates the first thing one sees are twenty or more tiny colorful bicycles with the pedals removed. The pedals, to be attached later, are in baskets on the handlebar. After a video presentation each new rider first walks a bicycle, then pushes it along like a draisine until balance is quickly learned and then the pedals are attached to complete the learning process. They go away as highly satisfied eager new riders.

If any Wheelmen wishes to hear well researched bicycle technical or social history they should plan to attend one of these future conferences. The 12th ICHC will be held in either Milan or Vienna (to be announced) in 2001.

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Contact M. Hoehne at [email protected]