On this day in 1822, Caroline Kiner, aka Elsa Von Blumen, visited Michigan. She was a famous high-wheeled bicyclist, known for her exhibitions on the Penny Farthing. In Detroit, she aimed to ride 1000 miles in six days, inspiring many girls and young women at the start of the suffrage movement.
TRANSCRIPT
On this day Caroline Kiner, aka Elsa Von Blumen visited Michigan in 1822.She was a famous high-wheeled bicyclist at the time. Sometimes called a Bone Shaker, a Velocipede, or a Penny farthing, this style of bike has one large wheel in the front and one small one in the back, and in the late 1870s women’s bicycle racing was developing into a popular spectator sport. The first exhibitions were held in France, but soon spread to the US and then to England. Though some denounced the ladies as common showgirls, they were in fact highly trained and motivated athletes. Caroline visited Detroit for an exhibition, and said she would ride 1000 miles in six days. A custom velodrome, or bicycle track, was even built inside the former music hall for the occasion. She was a role model for many girls and young women at the start of the suffrage movement.