#12 Postcard Trivia 1.30.18
"Buller and I are on our way cycling to Guisborough." July 23, 1906. The image on this postcard is a quaint view of the town of Mitford, near Morpeth in England. But the message from the sender at the bottom of the card is what I find interesting. Where is Guisborough and how long does it take to get there on a bicycle? I found Morpeth and Guisborough with the help of Google Maps. The towns are located on the northeast coast of England about 70 miles apart. Traveling south along the coastline to Guisborough would be a scenic trip. But what would it be like on a bicycle in 1906? Cycling was wildly popular in the early 1900's. I found a copy of the Cyclists' Touring Club British Road Book on an auction website (see photo below). It was published from 1897-1906. Our postcard travelers likely used this guide to plan their trip. It came complete with routes, a map, and information about road conditions. Also below is a photo from the Tour de France taken in July, 1906. Although our postcard writer was not in this race, he was cycling at the same time and probably rode a similar bicycle and wore a similar outfit. Today, cyclists can access information from the National Cycle Network for help in planning routes for cycling trips across the United Kingdom. Bike trip, anyone?
According to an estimate from Google Maps, how long would it take to complete the 70-mile trip from Morpeth to Guisborough on a bicycle?
A. 12 hours B. 6 1/2 hours C. 3 1/2 hours
Hover cursor over image above or touch image to reveal answer.
