Sunday, August 21, 2011

Bicycle Museum of America, New Bremen, OH

 

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Not only did we get to ride our bikes a couple times this weekend around the lovely Grand Lake area, but we also took a short drive 10 miles south to New Bremen, OH, home of the Bicycle Museum of America. I saw the museum advertised in one of the tourist magazines we got at the park office, and thought about going, but when we got a comment from fellow bloggers at Palms-Americana telling us about it, we knew we had to go. And are we glad we did!

The museum has hundreds of bikes on three floors, and it’s hard to know where to begin looking. We first watched a video on how to ride a high wheeler, or an “ordinary” as they were called. They even have one on a trainer that you can ride, which we did. Not a very comfortable seat, and they didn’t get on them using steps!

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I’ll post a few of the more interesting bikes, but if anyone really loves looking at bicycles, you can see all the pictures Jim took here.

One of the first bikes ever built, the 1816 Draisine. No pedals, you straddle it and push with your feet like a scooter. There is a leather cord to pull for the brake.

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The Shire Boneshaker, from the 1870’s. I’m sure it was deserving of the name.

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An unusual trike.

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A 1901 Sled Bike. It has a sled runner for a front wheel and giant studs on the rear tire for use in snow and ice.

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Lots of innovative drive trains.

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Strange looking saddles.

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And just some of the coolest bikes we’ve ever seen.

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And if that wasn’t enough, the elderly man who sold us our tickets (only $2 admission, by the way), asked us if we wanted to see some more bikes before we left, and showed us down into the basement. Wow! I think we liked the Bicycle Museum even more than the RV Museum.

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Saw this ad for an organized ride coming up in September in Arcanum, Ohio. It’s a timed 30 mile ride. For every donut you eat along the way they deduct 5 minutes off your time. Jim was ready to sign up, even though we don’t even know where Arcanum is!

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After leaving the museum we took a walk around New Bremen, where Bremenfest was taking place this weekend. Your usual fair food, amusement rides, and the ever popular mud volleyball.

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Glad we came to this part of Ohio. Who would have known?

5 comments:

  1. Boy some of those bikes were really old! Quite unique. I love visiting museums such as the bike museum where you learn the history of something we use everyday. Nice to know its beginnings.

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  2. I spotted a few things in your pictures that I either missed or forgot about. Guess it's time for a return visit.
    I like the idea of the donut ride, if we take the tandem Cathy can peddle and I'll eat.

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  3. What a unique museum! I love to check out places like that. It was really great that you discovered this place.

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  4. Wonderful post. Love all of the pictures along with the descriptions. Next best thing to being there!

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  5. Gosh I was actually born and raised in Ohio and I didn't know about this cool museum or about Mud Volleyball - YUCK!

    I may have to go back to Ohio as a tourist after reading about your time there. Thanks

    Sherry
    www.directionofourdreams.blogspot.com

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