What: A demonstration of vintage bicycles by their high-skill riders
When: Tuesday, June 11 from 12 to 1 p.m.
Where: Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St., Cape May
–
Members of the public are invited to see and learn about vintage bicycles and see the skill of riding high wheels in action as The Wheelmen host demonstrations during lunch on the beautiful grounds of the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St., on Tuesday, June 11, from noon to 1 p.m.
Men and women from across the country and abroad who are passionate about vintage bicycles and bicycling will be here for the 57th Annual Meet of The Wheelmen June 9-13, with many events scheduled in Cape May, Cape May Point, and Cape May Point State Park.
The Wheelmen is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to keeping alive the heritage of American cycling and promoting the restoration and riding of early cycles manufactured in and before 1932, along with encouraging cycling as part of modern living. Members are intent on learning lost skills, retelling lost stories, researching and writing of the golden era of cycling.
The Wheelmen have a full schedule of private and public activities for their annual Meet in Cape May. There will be opportunities to see demonstrations and exhibitions in and around the Cape May Point Science Center, and the Cape May Point State Park, nearby, including an evening lantern ride.
Hundreds of Wheelmen worldwide gather annually for this four-day celebration of antique cycling. Annual Meets have been held in such historic places such as Mystic Seaport, Connecticut; Newport, Rhode Island; Auburn, Indiana; and Williamsburg, Virginia. Ten-mile tours on bicycles manufactured in and before 1932 are held in conjunction with Annual Meets as well as 25- and 100-mile (century) rides, bicycle games, and uniform and costume judging. Ribbons, certificates, and medals are presented at most meets for distance rides, games, races, and uniforms.
The club was founded in 1967 at Hoopes Reservoir, Wilmington, Delaware, at its first Official High Wheel Tour by 12 men, mainly from the Philadelphia area. Today the club has over 1,000 members across the U.S., Canada and overseas. The club has participated in major events such as the 1976 Bicentennial in Philadelphia, the 1982 World’s Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee, and grand parades in New York, Detroit, Washington, Milwaukee and Indianapolis.
Wheelmen membership is open to all. This 2024 Wheelmen Meet is co-sponsored by Cape May MAC (Museums+Arts+Culture).