Anything I might say here about Major Taylor would be redundant, so much has been written about our first international cycling star. I will simply quote Andrew Ritchie, an early biographer of Taylor's: "(Major Taylor was) the most wonderful cyclist of the age."

Major Taylor's star status was such that, like many modern champions, he would ride any bike if the manufacturer could meet his price. Taylor rode many different bicycle brands, including Alcyon, Labor, Peugeot, Comet, Munger, Orient, Stearns, Pierce, Reading Standard, and Massey-Harris. But the bicycle most closely identified with the Major is the Iver Johnson Model 90. The Model 90 came in two basic versions: the standard diamond frame and the "Built like a Bridge" truss frame; the latter offering visual appeal and marketability without improving performance. (If interested, see my French 1910/teens J.B. Louvet truss frame featured elsewhere on this site).

Pictured here is a 1923 Iver Johnson Model 90 with the adjustable track stem that Major Taylor helped to popularize. Other features include the Iver Johnson "snowflake" crankset and Persons racing saddle. Thanks to James Allen and Dave Weber for helping me find a Model 90.

1923 Iver Johnson Model 90  ©Daniel Dahlquist