The Lost Cyclist by David Herlihy
Title: The Lost Cyclist
Author: David Herlihy
Genre: Biography
# of pages: 301
Start date:
End date:
Borrowed/bought: borrowed
My rating of the book, F- [worst] to A [best]: C
Description of Book: In the 1880s bicycling was gaining attraction as a new sport and past time for Victorian gentlemen. These were referred to as wheelmen. During this time, we see the transition from the old bicycles (with the huge wheel in the front) to the modern bicycle with equal wheels. This story is of Frank Lenz, an up and coming competition bicyclist, who decides to go around the world on his bicycle.
Review: Let me first state that the title is misleading. There was a lot of back story about the history of the bicycle (which made sense and I enjoyed thoroughly). What was strange was the author going back and forth between The Story of Frank Lenz and following the Story of William Sachtleben and his friend go around the world previously. This did not make sense until you read the last 100 or so pages- in which Sachtleben is directly involved in helping solve the disappearance of Lenz. So, I think maybe the title should have been more carefully chosen so it doesn't confuse the audience. In the last chapter the author does make some conjectures which I felt were helpful in resolving the story.
Author: David Herlihy
Genre: Biography
# of pages: 301
Start date:
End date:
Borrowed/bought: borrowed
My rating of the book, F- [worst] to A [best]: C
Description of Book: In the 1880s bicycling was gaining attraction as a new sport and past time for Victorian gentlemen. These were referred to as wheelmen. During this time, we see the transition from the old bicycles (with the huge wheel in the front) to the modern bicycle with equal wheels. This story is of Frank Lenz, an up and coming competition bicyclist, who decides to go around the world on his bicycle.
Review: Let me first state that the title is misleading. There was a lot of back story about the history of the bicycle (which made sense and I enjoyed thoroughly). What was strange was the author going back and forth between The Story of Frank Lenz and following the Story of William Sachtleben and his friend go around the world previously. This did not make sense until you read the last 100 or so pages- in which Sachtleben is directly involved in helping solve the disappearance of Lenz. So, I think maybe the title should have been more carefully chosen so it doesn't confuse the audience. In the last chapter the author does make some conjectures which I felt were helpful in resolving the story.