History Blog: Bicycles in Alvarado

The "safety" bicycle was invented in the mid-1880s and was popular over the earlier Penny-Farthing bicycle with the large wheel in the front. The invention of the pneumatic tire in 1888 made for smoother ride. By the 1890s, bicycles were popular throughout the United States. Bicycles came to Alvarado in 1896, when I.V. Ralph became a dealer for McKeon bicycle and M. R. Lyle became a dealer for Victor.

A newspaper report in 1896 mentioned that there were more than 50 bicycle riders in the Alvarado area. Even women were getting involved with Mrs. J. W. Atkinson, Mrs. O. J. Emery and Mrs. H. P. Dyer purchasing a bicycle in a single week. Also, in 1896, Andrew Muller in Alvarado rode his bicycle from Alvarado to Stockton, taking a couple of days to get there.

Bicycles were also popular with the older boys in Alvarado and other neighboring towns.

In 1897, the Alvarado boys competed against the Newark boys in a road race and came up the losers. In a grudge match, the Alvarado boys challenged the Newark boys to a road race from nineteen to twenty five miles. Unfortunately, there is no record of the results from this race. We are lucky in that August Nauert of Alvarado had a brownie camera and took a picture of the race as it went down Alvarado Road. August was 20 years old at the time and probably had a friend or two in the race.

In May 1900, a road race was held in Centerville with teams from Pleasanton, San Leandro and Alvarado. Pleasanton lost in the first relay, leaving the teams from San Leandro and Alvarado racing a rely, where Alvarado won.