Pelotome –
around Canada on a bicycle.
“The first Canadian Road Book in fact the first bicycle road book of the world was published in the Spring of 1884 by order of the Board of Officers and distributed free to all members of the Association. It was very cordially received not only in this country but in the United States, where the highest enconiums were pronounced upon it by the Cycling Press.”
~ The C.W.A. Guide Book – second edition (1887).
My Life and Times
by Jerome K. Jerome
From £4,75
1870
Le Tour du Monde en Vélocipède.
“Around the World by Vélocipède” is the earliest known cycle touring book ever published. Released a year after his charming “Manuel du vélocipède”, this fictional account, written in French – under the nom de plume, Le Grand Jacques – and also serialised in the author’s bi-weekly magazine, Le Vélocipède illustré, it follows an eccentric American millionaire and a “freak show” giantess on their bespoke Vélocipède from Paris to Siberia, crossing Russia into Alaska and Canada, before making their way down through Panama to Cape Horn, sailing on to the Cape of Good Hope and then heading back to Paris through Africa.
- by Le Grand Jacques (Richard Lesclide).
- with illustrations by Felix Regamey.
- published in French by Librairie de la Publication, Paris.
April 1884 – revised and extended in April 1887.
The C.W.A. Guide Book.
The Canadian Wheelmen’s Association‘s guide “containing descriptions of Canadian roads, hotels, consuls, etc., with the constitution, by-laws and racing rules of the association,” was the first North American road book to be released and, among many other route reports, includes the brief account “400 Miles in Northern Ontario” made in August 1883.
- by H.B. Donly and W.E. Tisdale.
- Published by The Canadian Wheelmen’s Association, Simcoe, Ontario, Canada.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
An incredible collection of cycling books. I can’t wait for the Spring weather to arrive so that I can retrace the routes of some of these!
~ Lorenz Mueller – Basel, Switzerland.