Bicycle Boom, DIY

The 1970s was a hotbed for all things bicycling.

There were the bestsellers: The Complete Book of Bicycling by Eugene A. Sloane and Richard’s Bicycle Book by Richard Ballantine. I personally poured over the repair manual, Anybody’s Bike Book. In 1977 Rodale purchased Bicycling magazine. My first real date was going to see Breaking Away, a 1979 film about an underrated ragtag team of friends from the stone quarrying area of Indiana (right next to Ohio!) who aspire to race bicycles. This movie exemplifies the 70s “can do” spirit.

 

Of course, for anyone around at the time, there was Bikecentennial.