1897 American-Made Humber Roadster

I rode my first century on this 1897 direct-drive Humber roadster with my brother David at a Lawrence, Kansas Wheelmen Meet in 1993. The British Humber set up shop in America on the east coast for two years during the bicycle boom of the 1890s. At the time of my century ride this beautifully restored bike was the only known American-made Humber in existence, featured in a book called The Humber Story. Since this time I have added a ladies' Humber to the collection, and I am aware of another ladies' model on the west coast.

Unique features of the Humber include a plunger brake that operates through the stem and front fork, and an original Christy saddle. I consider the Humber "Wheel of Life" logo of men circling the maypole to be one of the most distinctive marques of all time.