EXERCISERS & HOME TRAINERS
Home trainers owed their invention to inclement winter weather and the need for racing cyclists to maintain their exercise regimes on a daily basis.
An important commercial application for elaborate indoor cycling machines, which no doubt allowed funds to be allocated for their further development, was for exhibition purposes. Racing cyclists – who were the top class sports stars of their day – could earn even more money for their sponsors by cycling against the clock and against each other on such machines while on promotional tours (above).
1970s Cycle Meter Competitive Trainer (1901 Design)
(Now sold)
I got the Cycle Meter from a museum. It’s in the style of the 1901 Tribune Meter, and is currently set up with a pair of identical modern bicycles. The pulley and belt is missing from one side (I’ve ordered replacements). Each pulley drives a cable connected to the meter’s hands at the rear of the display board, so you can see who is riding faster.
HISTORY of HOME TRAINERS
1912 H. HUNT & Co FLOOR-MOUNTED HOME TRAINER
Home trainer and exerciser info from my collection of Gerry Moore’s research material