The craziest vintage bike photos I've found in the archives...

I just found this photo in December, I think.  I have no idea where he was supposed to land, but obviously, he didn't make it.  And how 'bout the kink in the ramp, pretty gnarly.  Early 1900's crazy man.

I'm pretty sure this is either a circus performer, or a daredevil who went around doing this loop.  The circus idea comes from the rigging and rope nets to crash into, circus people knew how to do those things.  There are 3 or 4 different photos of this loop and set up, and I think it's from 1910-1920 era.

Old School street riding, really old school.  This is a safety bike, a penny farthing design, but with the little wheel in front to make it safer to ride.  The inventor rode it down the U.S. Capitol steps, in the 1890's, I believe, to prove how much easier this bike was to ride, than the standard penny farthing.

I think this is from the 1930's to 1950's era, and I found it deep in some public domain files.  Cool idea.  Don't be surprised if someone brings this idea back to life, just on a beefier sprocket. 

Ow.  Just OW.  Not only does this take strength and balance, but it had to hurt his head like crazy.  Don't try this at home, especially if you're drunk.  (Unless your friends are shooting video, anyhow). 

Mega ramp, 1904 or 1905.  This one actually had a date.  This looks to be a 20 to 25 foot gap, and a pretty well built ramp.  Keep in mind, though, that these bikes were all made with what we call "mild steel" not chromoly.  He's hucking this gap on a bike that you could snap riding off a loading dock one time, and he's doing it without a helmet, without an emergency room to go to afterward, and without a Red Bull video budget.  Gnarly.

This is from around 1910, I think.  Look close at the back rim, there seems to be a flat spot.  Let's put this nutcase in perspective:  It took about 105 years, MUCH stronger bikes, and Morgan Wade, for this trick to be repeated.  This guys balls must have clanged when he walked.  In-freakin'-sane.  

Hope you enjoyed this look back at the crazy bike riders of your grandparents and great-grandparents day.  

I just finished my 363 page ebook about freestyle in the early 1980's.  It's called Freestyle BMX Tales: Idaho Dork to Industry Guy.  The ebook (aka digital file, not a dead tree book), has several of my most popular blog posts about the era from 1982 to 1986, when I got into BMX and freestyle, and freestyle itself was just turning into a sport.  It's costs $3.43 (+ applicable taxes), and is available in my brand new online store.  Check it out at the link below:

WPOS Kreative (Freestyle BMX Tales ebook)