1890s

Marion Black Racing Bike

During the late 1800s bicycle riding became increasingly popular and was considered not only a sport but also a factor in developing good health and citizenship. A group of young Fort Wayne men formed the first Fort Wayne Bicycle Club on 9 April 1884. It was a social club as well as one devoted to bicycle exercise. They had their own club rooms and sponsored parties, dances and picnics in the summer. The club, which primarily rode the bike style known as "Ordinaries" at the time, participated in competitions of both time and distance. They also appeared in parades in uniforms of navy blue trimmed with red silk and nickel buttons, a polo cap and bicycle shoes.

By 1890, when the Bicycle Club disbanded, it was generally believed that bicycle parades and club "runs" seemed to have had their day. Practical cycling was becoming increasingly popular and bicyclists transitioned from Ordinary to Safety bicycles; riders had learned the advantage and ease of riding bicycles with smaller wheels. The popularity of cycling continues today with an extensive bicycle trail system that connects Fort Wayne with parts of Allen County.

Marion Black was one of an elite group of cyclists in Fort Wayne. Born in 1867, Black competed in numerous bicycle races in and around Fort Wayne. On 27 July 1894, competing at the Indiana State Fair-grounds in Indianapolis, Black and his race partner, Will Peltier, set a new state record for tandems, com-pleting the half-mile race in 1:00.3 on their Stearns tandem. The two men also operated a bicycle shop, Black and Peltier, at 12 West Wayne Street.

This Stearns safety bicycle, made in Syracuse, New York, bears an 1898-99 Fort Wayne city license number 1976. Owned by Marion Black, it was likely ridden in many of his racing competitions.