Pedaling History Special Events

Get-togethers, Programs, and Show 'n' Tells

Call the Museum at 716-662-3853 for current details!

There are always new additions to EVERY program. New programs are added frequently. All Events are FREE unless noted and are followed by an optional reduced-price Guided Tour of the Museum opportunity for participants.

(+ denotes a small cost)

February: "Famous Black Bicyclists"

Black History Month - Call or Email to RSVP

Visit The Major Taylor Association's site for more information on America's first black athlete, pictured here.

Two Feature- Length Movies! Both are Great Historical Films, G-rated, but content material not suggested for most children’s interest 11:00 am EACH Saturday in February, 2009 "The Bicycle Corps: America’s Black Army on Wheels” A PBS special about the Buffalo soldiers of the 25th Infantry who in 1897 rode bicycles 2000 miles from Fort Missoula, Montana to St. Louis. Reservations please. 2:00 pm EACH Saturday in February, 2009 “Tracks of Glory” The Story of the First “MAN OF COLOR” to hold a professional World Sports Title! The Fastest Bicycle Rider in The World: Marshall “MAJOR” Taylor. At the of the turn of the Century in 1900, Major Taylor, a champion bicycle racer, was a crusader for fairness & ethics in bicycle racing as well as for equality for blacks. His talent as a bicycle racer was acclaimed and admired worldwide and his inspiration as an athlete should be, by far, more well known and respected by all. We take pride in offering this presentation. Reservations please.

April - May - June: Learn to Ride Clinic!  -  Click here for more details

May: Our Traditional Classic Bike and Tandem Ride! 

                                                                            Now a family Ride see below.

National Bicycle Month - Call or Email for Questions

Old Bikes and Every Age of Rider. Our Annual BIA* Day classic bike ride -- the Spring Rust Buster! Get out that old classic 1960s or earlier bike and take a short, leisurely ride with us, followed by a light picnic lunch (+) at the Museum. In case of rain, there will be an indoor program, museum tour, and video.                         *Bicycle Institute of America

• Saturday - May 23, 2009
  • Family Bike Ride -  9:30 A. M.

          Our Annual Spring Rust-Buster - Ride Starts from the museum at 9:45 A. M. - a 6 1/2 mile cruise around the Village of Orchard Park on your old cruiser, tandem, new hybrid or just your favorite bicycle.  Anything that pedals goes....except one with training wheels [it's just a bit too long for those to slow us down].  A casual ride for every age visiting historical sites around the village.  The Town Historian will provide historical background information at each stop.  Ride ends at the museum about noon with an informal "Cook your own Hot Dog" picnic under our tent.  Honor system - $1.00 Hot dogs, $1.00 Sodas - along with Chips, Garnishes and Chat.  Ride supported by sag wagon with ice water and assistance as needed, so don't fret - 6 miles isn't that far on a bike over two hours time.  Very casual, light good exercise, a leisurely and non-aggressive social ride for all ages.

Whether we have 6 or 60 riders this is always a SPECIAL & FUN RIDE !

Families Encouraged.....Helmets REQUIRED

Riders get 1/2 Price Admission to Museum following lunch. 

Reservations would be appreciated [so we can plan food], but not necessary.          Call 716-662-3853  or Email for Reservation

 

Programs Offered in the Past

                       and Frequently Re offered:

July:         Fourth of July Parade!

         Be a part of our next parade - Call or Email for Date and Time

With decorated Bicycles from Erie County Communities - Our Annual parade ride with your Patriotic or Theme decorated bikes and ours, or your bicycles of the past. Advance registration required. Ride your bike or ours. Call for full information and times.

     

August:

       Generally, no special events are scheduled for August

Pedaling History was proud to host the The Wheelmen National Meet in Buffalo in August of 2001. It was a Special Opportunity to see hundreds of vintage antique bicycles ridden by period-dressed riders as the national club, The Wheelmen, came to Buffalo for their 34th annual meeting.

September: A Different Program Scheduled each Year!

           Come to Tea...

                                 Postponed from Women's History Month [April]

We are thinking of doing this program again in late September this year....Check back please, or let us know of your interest....Call or Email for actual date and time.

A favorite spring program, our social Victorian Tea celebrates Women's History Month. Lady bicyclists helped transform the lives of women from the strictly set rules of the early Victorian period to the more practical and freer practices of the Gay Nineties. Fathers and daughters may wish to invite mothers and grandmothers. Reservations, please. (+)

Other Septembers:

A Recent Example - Call or Email for Date and Time and the details this year's Sept. Program.

"The Bicycle in the Artist's Eye": Artists, both professional and amateur, have long used the bicycle as a subject for their expression, using media including pen and ink, etchings, oils, watercolors, aquatints, to rotogravure printing, color lithography, and photography. The bicycle image has also been used on dishes, jewelry, sculptures, and in countless other materials. Bicycle makers have also been artists in design as well as mechanics; we'll check out some of these as well.

October:         "Now and Then"

Recycled Cycling Ideas - Call or Email for Date and Time

Are you following all of the new products for today's cyclists? New products are constantly being advertised as "new". If not new products, they proclaim new improvements of bicycles and/or bicycle accessories. But are they really new? This eye-opening program addresses the idea that we are not as creative as we think we are. Many of these "new" products are just modern applications of products and patented ideas of as much as 100 years ago.

Every Fall:      Annual Bicycle Racers Reunion

• Saturday, 18 October 2009 - Save the date  at 1:30  P. M.  

             Add your name to our list of racers -

                                       Call or Email for more information

If you've competitively raced a bicycle anytime in the past 100 years, bring your mementos and join our group sharing a couple of hours reminiscing with your competitors. We want to hear your first hand favorite story or memory of bicycle racing in Western New York or elsewhere.

November:            "Buffalo's Bicycling Heritage"

When the Bicycle Came to Buffalo - Call or Email for Date and Time

There's always New Material! Hear details of the author's continuing research and documentation of our local bicycle history as he reviews Buffalo's Bicycles: Buffalo's Bicycle Heritage.

December:                  "Bicycle Music"

Our Traditional Christmastide Program - Call or Email for Date and Time

Hear some of those hundreds of wonderful old bicycle songs -- marches, love songs, comedy songs, and more -- that entertained the cyclists and others in the Gay Nineties! Did you know they advertised bicycle manufacturers and bicycle clubs with popular songs that were sung in the taverns and parlours back then? Perhaps sing along on a few. The program ends with a few Christmas carols, 12 days of Christmas, and "cookies and cheer" (+).

Any Past program:               

Available for Repeat Performance for your group at your special occasion !                                    Inquire for rate.

The Bicycle at the Pan-American Exposition - Call or Email to request information

2001 celebrated the Centennial! As the automobile was only in its infancy at the time, the bicycle was the transportation of the multitudes in 1901. How did it play a part in the Pan-American Exposition? Learn of its role in that great event a century ago.