Bicycling is among the most democratic of sports. You don't have to race in the Tour de France. All of us, at any age, can enjoy the benefits of biking at our own pace and on our own level.

Sure, there will always be the competitors, boasting the better bike, neater gear, and greater speed, but those of us who love to bike don’t get all that dopey about it. We just love how it makes us feel, and how good it is for us.

The Jersey Cape has always been a bicycling place, even for those of us who love our old pedal-brake touring bikes. But lately, the bicycle has become something of a craze across America, and that craze definitely had an impact on the market for antiques and collectibles.

It’s a natural course of events: People who really get involved in an activity, whether it’s boating or golf, horses or gardening, bikes or cars, want to know about its history. Then, sooner or later, they wind up in the antique shops.

The bicycle, like so many of today’s good things, is of Victorian origin, invented only two years into that era, in 1839, by a Scottish blacksmith, Kirkpatrick Macmillan. Macmillan’s bike was treadle driven. A few years later, the French developed a pedal-driven bike.

There had been earlier attempts. Most notable was the “Dandy Horse” or “Draisienne,” invented by the German baron, Karl von Drais. It had two wheels and you could steer it, but you had to propel it by pushing your feet against the ground.

In 1865 the famous velocipede was invented. Its high front wheel that was supposed to make it go faster, hence the name.
It was also nicknamed, “the bonecrusher,” however, because its wood frame and metal wheels rattled on the cobblestone streets of the day.

The all-metal “high wheel” bike of the 1870s solved that problem by adding solid rubber tires. Americans got their first glimpse of a bicycle when it was introduced with great fanfare at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia in 1876.

In the early 1880s, the Englishman, James Starley, introduced the modern bike with its chain, equal size wheels and sprocket-driven rear wheel.

After that, improvements came regularly — pneumatic tires (1880), coaster brakes (1882), speed regulators (1890), racing (“deraileur”) gears (1899).

Since the turn of the century most of the advances in bike manufacturing have been in design and in materials like chrome and aluminum.

Bicycle collectors, like classic car collectors, should know something about restoring their old machines, or at least how to get them restored and where to get parts.

A good resource is “Collecting and Restoring Antique Bicycles” by G. Donald Adams.

Just as with car, there’s a “Bicycle Blue Book” with market values for bikes made between 1820 and 1970. You can get both these books and others on old bicycles on-line at www.peteandedbooks.com.

Collectors are also looking for anything bicycle-related — prints, advertising, figurines, jewelry, pottery, Christmas ornaments, etc.

Prices for old bikes: Boneshaker, wood spokes, iron seat, black paint, ca. 1870 ($1,900), Columbia, Special Deluxe, Red/White, rear basket, ca.1940 ($350); Monarch, Boy’s Silver King, 1946, 26-inches ($850); Schwinn, Girl’s B-6, 1947 ($1,700); Schwinn, Deluxe Stingray, 1965 ($325); Schwinn, Black Phantom, red/black and chrome, 1950 ($3,200).

Some old bikes with really set you back. An 1890 “White Flyer” by the White Cycle Co. of Westboro, Mass. is valued at from $30,000 to $35,000.
A bicycle-built-for-two (Tandem) by Schwinn from 1891 is about $11,000. For about the same price you can get a Hayfork black iron tricycle from 1895.

Prices for bike accessories: Calendar, 1887, Victor Bicycle, 16"x11" ($150); Print, cyclists, 1900 ($125); Clock, gilt bronze, man on bicycle, British United Clock Co., 1893 ($600).

Mark Your Calendar: Here is a current list of some of the events where I will be signing copies of my book and appraising whatever you bring in to me. Hope to see you at one or more of these fun events.

Sunday, Aug. 19 (2-4 p.m.): Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts Show House at the Shore Tour, starting with tea at the Carriage House on the Physick Estate (Call Anne Fitzsimmons, 609-884-5404 (ex. 152).

Saturday, Sept. 15 (10 a.m. - noon): Cape May County Museum. Appraisal Fair and Book signing. Buy a book, have it signed and get two items appraised. Appraisals without buying the book, $5 donation to the museum for two items. Call Parry Woelcke at 609-465-3535).

Monday, Oct. 8 (2:30- 4:30 p.m.): Victorian Week High Tea at the Carriage House on the Physick Estate, lecture (“Victorian Things and Their Stories”), appraisals (bring as much as you want) and book signing.
For ticket price and reservations, call Mary Stewart at 609-884-5404, ex. 131.

—Arthur Schwerdt, a certified appraiser, is the author of “The Antique Story Book: Finding the Real Value of Old Things,” and co-owner of The August Farmhouse Antiques on Route 9 in Swainton.