Rick Just
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Author
  • Speaker
  • Contact

The Biking Boys of Boise

9/12/2020

Comments

 
Bicycling was all the rage in 1901. Of particular interest was the racing of tandem bicycles. Teams from all over the country were setting out to set or break records.
 
On April 9 the Idaho Statesman ran a story headlined, “Two Young Men of This City Will Ride Their Bike to Buffalo.” Riding to Buffalo, New York would be arduous for today’s bike riders on today’s paved roads. In 1901 there were paved roads, mostly in cities, but the young men were going to be riding on a lot of dirt roads better fit for wagons.
 
The bicyclists were Roy Pendelton, a barber, and Ira King, who worked at the Idanha Hotel. They got themselves a Tribune Tandem, much like the one pictured, and hoped their trip would reap rewards from the bicycle company. They expected to leave Boise in early June and take 25 days to travel the 2300 miles to Buffalo. Once they crossed the Rocky Mountains, they expected to make 150 to 175 miles a day.
 
Pendleton had considerable experience as a bicycle racer. Alas, the pair only made it as far as Wyoming before giving up their quest.

Picture
Speaking of Idaho history posts are copyright © 2020 by Rick Just. Sharing is encouraged. If you don’t find a button that lets you do that, find the post on Speaking of Idaho. If you’re missing my daily posts, select the RSS button, or select See it First under the Facebook Following tab.
Comments
    Like and follow Speaking of Idaho on Facebook and Twitter.

    Subscribe to the Speaking of Idaho newsletter

    * indicates required
    Email Format
    Picture
    The first book in the Speaking of Idaho series is out. Ask for it at your local Idaho bookstore, find it on Amazon, or, if you want a signed copy, click the button.
    Picture
    Rick's book about Fearless Farris is available on Amazon! Click the picture above to be taken to Amazon. If you'd like an autographed copy, click the button below.

    Author, Speaker

    Rick Just has been writing about Idaho history since 1989 when he wrote and recorded scripts for the Idaho Centennial Commission’s daily radio program, Idaho Snapshots. His latest book on Idaho history is Images of America, Idaho State Parks. Rick also writes a regular column for the Idaho Press.

    Rick does public presentations on Idaho's state park history and the history of the Morrisite war for the Idaho Humanities Council's Speakers Bureau.
    ​


    Check out Rick's history of Idaho State Parks.

    The audio link below is to Rick's Story Story Night set called "Someplace Not Firth"

    RSS Feed

Speaking of Idaho history posts are copyright © 2023 by Rick Just. Sharing is encouraged. If you’re missing my daily posts, select the RSS button, or select See it First under the Facebook Following tab.

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you follow a link (generally to a book) from my page to an Amazon page, I get a tiny percentage of any purchase you may make.