Program

NYS Historic

Subject

People, Site, Transportation

Location

341 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866, USA

Lat/Long

43.079941, -73.786034

Grant Recipient

BIKEATOGA

In 1879, early bicycle proponent Wentworth Rollins spent three weeks in Saratoga Springs, New York during his three-month trip from New York City to Chicago on his Columbia bicycle, an early type of bicycle that included a front wheel measuring 52 inches made by the Pope Manufacturing Company in Boston, Massachusetts. Rollins left New York City on July 3 and arrived in Saratoga Springs on July 8. While sojourning in Saratoga Springs, Rollins traveled around town on his bicycle, making short trips of 15 to 20 miles a day (New York Times, July 27, 1879).

After departing Saratoga Springs on July 29, Rollins traveled west along the Erie Canal to Buffalo. After Buffalo he traveled on to Cleveland, Toledo, and arrived in Chicago on September 27. Rollins had started riding his bicycle only ten days prior to his big trip, and insisted he was not a professional as the excursion was “only for pleasure” (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, August 10, 1879). The following year Rollins traveled overseas for a bicycle tour of England, Ireland, and Scotland. He continued to be a proponent of bicycling and worked as a bicycle dealer in New York City.