Rem and Charlie won the first TT, of course but there was much more to it than that, as you’ll find out by turning to the 1907 features list.

Four features have been added today: two from 1903; two from 1910.

1903 The Position of the Motor Cycle: The first ever review of the motor cycle and it’s likely future..
1903 A novel sidecarriage attachment: Mills & Fulford made a sidecar that steered with the bike.
1910 From Frisco to the Big Apple: Was it a tough ride? Judging by this rider’s report it was brutal.
1910 Touring–1900 vs 1910: A pundit looked back to show just how fast the pastime had been evolving.

Added today to the 1903 features, a cri de coeur against four-cylindered ‘monster’ motor cycles with a description of French monsters at Canning Town and the outcome of a race at the London circuit,

For your delectation, today’s additions are:
A word for the Tricycle, an insight into the world of three-wheeling.
Confessions of an Edwardian Jack-the-Lad, Pioneer riders knew how to misbehav.
The Demon Scorcher, speed freaks have always been with us.
Building a Motor Cycle, in which our hero creates his dream bike in the kitchen.
Don’t Hesitate, get on your bike–advice on sorting the wheat from the chaff.
Wake up ladies! A clarion call to the fair sex to join the fun, and some memorable correspondence concerning the advisability of allowing plucky gels to ride motor cycles.
From Scotland to Scandinavia, Having dragged his missus from Essex to Scotland, a determined enthusiast sent her home and took his bike over the North Sea.
Lords of the Highway, A rather wonderful critique of the lesser spotted pedestrian.

More pictures and  stories have been added to 1903. The first  Harley…three more pots from FN…JAP using a speeding prosecution in an advert…a sidesaddle pillion seat…plenty of action at Canning Town…that was the year that was. More useful tips have been unearthed for the 1903 Sparklets listing too, such as boiling strong nitric acid and keeping your nails clean.

Added today, the 1906 adventures of a newspaper deliveryman and his Humber tricar.

As the 1910 feature, From Frisco to the Big Apple shows, riding across the USA was not to be taken lightly.

The latest addition is an ‘England Invaded’ yarn in which a determined motor cyclist saves the day. You’ll find it in the 1909 features list.

While the ‘pre-history’ section of the timeline is reasonably complete the rest of the site is very much a work in progress, particularly when it comes to pictures. As a taste of things to come you might care to look at 1907-1911 which are reasonably commplete; the first of many contemporary features have been added. In 1911, for example, you’ll find a wide ranging review of the TT, including some contemporary letters; a report on the subsequent races between Charlie Collier and Jake de Rosier–the first Transatlantic Trophy; a roadtest of a Douglas and the history of the End-to-End runs, six-day mileage records and a 3,500-mile jaunt round the coast.

The sections on cartoons and poetry are also well under way; believe it or not before the Great War poetry about bikes was rather good. No, really! The latest addition is a poignant ode by a stranded competitor in a long-distance trial.

If you’ve ever been chased by a tyre biting dog check out the1903  feature on how to hurt our canine chums; also in the 1903 features collection you’ll find a large collection of ‘sparklets’: hints and tips including a warning against tourning your motor cycle upside down to fix a puncture.

This blog will be used to note the latest additions to the site.