Wheel Fever: How Wisconsin Became a Great Bicycling State
“The narrative . . . explores broad themes that would greatly influence the development of the nation as a whole, such as the birth, growth, and operation of an important industry, the rise of—and resistance to—women and black cyclists, the campaign for better roads, and the establishment of a popular spectator sport.” (from the foreword by David Herlihy)“The book is a comprehensive account of Wisconsin's journey from the early days of the shaky velocipede, through the bicycle's involvement in the labor movement and women's liberation, and into today's thriving bike culture. There are entertaining excerpts from 19th-century newspaper articles, such as a Milwaukee Sentinel guide from 1869 that warns, "Never allow your bicycle to get on top of you; it learns its bad tricks, besides being bad for the projecting angles of your anatomy." There are also fascinating photos of variations such as the high-wheel and the adult tricycle.” (Julia Burke, The Isthmus, October 10, 2013)“Wheel Fever is a valuable contribution to the ongoing bicycle movement. Americans are rediscovering the value of the bicycle for recreation, for health, for its environmental benefits, and for basic transportation. Understanding more about how this movement began and evolved will help us plan our state’s biking future.”(Dave Cieslewicz, executive director of Wisconsin Bicycle Federation, former mayor of Madison, Wis.)