Wheels of Change: How Women Rode the Bicycle to Freedom (With a Few Flat Tires Along the Way)

Narrative nonfiction is one of my favorite genres to read. I just love reading about real people, real times, and real places. Sue Macy has written a fascinating account of how the introduction of the bicycle helped woman step out of the shadows were they had been kept for centuries (most of them, certainly not all). Like most technological advances, the bicycle had it supporters and its naysayers. I found it really interesting to read about the development of the bicycle along with advertising and marketing strategies. I found it ironic that cigarette companies placed images of woman riding bikes on/in their boxes. I guess they wanted their brand associated with something fun and healthy, just like beer companies today want their product associated with athletics as well. It was fun to read about some of the ladies both celebrity and ordinary who used the bicycle and the freedom it represented to advocate for their cause(s) including the right to vote. It was also somewhat amusing to read about all the good and bad things doctors had to say about bicycles and the medical conditions helped or hurt by riding a bicycle. Sidebars included short newspaper article reprints that provided a glimpse into some of the attitudes of the day. The one that really made me role my eyes was a list of don't for female riders which included things such as: Don't wear a man's cap, don't criticize people's 'legs'", Don't wear clothes that don't fit, etc. Somehow I doubt there was a similar list for the men.The book is illustrated with posters, trade cards, postcards, and photographs of the period which helped me understand the text better. The photo of a young lady in her corset, looking like she couldn't possibly breathe in it made me wince. Macy has created a book that is both fascinating and entertaining. One that I can heartily recommend to those readers who enjoy getting a glimpse into the ways that life has changed over the years. Although a number of bicycle related inventions are still with us today, there are many that have gone away.

I gave this to my daughter, she loved it. It has lots of good information about women in STEM. Highly recommended.

I appreciated the brevity of this book, it's an easy reference about how the invention of the bicycle helped women gain independence. Interesting correlation between women's clothing and their confinement and dependence on men. And the changes in clothing to ride the bicycle made all the difference!

This full-color book is for all ages: adults will enjoy it as much as will middle graders. Every page contains photographs or diagrams or posters of some sort, and they all illustrate the history of women and the bicycle. There's some absolutely wonderful sidebar information on types of bicycles, how they were propelled, where they were raced, who held the records, and so on. The book is very well written and its argument convincing: that the bicycle helped women achieve a certain degree of freedom, and that once that was achieved, there was no going back -- only forward. My only complaint about this book is that it ends suddenly and abruptly: as a reader I would have liked a kind of tapering off into the present day. Or, if not that, some dates on the cover, such as 1850 - 1920 or such, so that I would be prepared for the story stopping.

I am serious biker who has crossed the U.S. by bike. I bought this book as a reference for me to use in writing a memoir about my trip. The book is written for young adults so I read it in about an hour. That said if young women or girl wants to know about one of the lesser known aspects of the Suffrage Movement this book is for her. In my opinion, the bicycle is one of greatest inventions of the late nineteenth century and had a huge impact on women's lives. The book is beautifully illustrated and would make a great Christmas present for a girl between 10 and 14 as her first "coffee table book."

This is a very interesting and informative book. Who knew that the bicycle was so important for women's progress! And the illustrations are FUN! Would recommend to anyone and especially as a gift for young gals, who need to hear how strong women can be and have been..

The bicycle played a most important part in liberating women beginning with the invention of the safety bicycle in the early 1890s. This book is written for young people but it makes interesting reading for people of all ages. The book is heavily illustrated and the pictures help tell the story. I highly recommend this book for all people including people of all ages and both men and women.

I would recommend this book for fourth grade and up. It is good to have some background on women’s suffrage and overall women’s discrimination throughout history. The language is not difficult, nor are the concepts but I think ten and up would get the most out of it. I would say once one is out of high school, the book may be a little watered down. I would have preferred a book with more detail and elaboration, however, for the target age, this is appropriate.

I bought this as a gift for a cyclist friend who really liked it . It’s not some big tome so an easy browsable read.

Imprescindible tanto por la calidad de ejecución del libro como por el contenido.El libro cuenta como la bicicleta fue un instrumento que sirvió para dar autonomía e independencia a las mujeres en una época donde no la tenían en absoluto.Para ello el libro está estructurado e ilustrado acertadisimamente, un deleite su lectura para aquellos (esta es la pega) que sepan inglés.

Great

This book is inexpensive, funny and most informative with interesting anecdotes and photographs throughout. I would thoroughly recommend it.Frances