It was turn back the clock night in downtown Findlay to a time even before automobiles as the Wheelmen took over Crawford street. Captain of the Ohio Wheelmen, Richard DeLombard, said "riding on of these bikes is basically like turning back time. These are like the great grand parents of our modern bikes. Many of the technical innovations that are in modern bikes first came on bikes like this."
Ross Hill gained interest in high wheel bicycles when he worked for Schwinn bicycles as part of the research division. Since he has taken to these bikes he has logged 37,000 miles on them. He says the production and tinkering of bicycles lead to the invention of cars and motorcycles. Hill said "you think about the chain. The chain was used in early automobiles but was developed for the bicycle. The nomadic tire was developed for the bicycle. Differentials were developed for tricycles in the early 1880's and 1890's. So there were many of the same thing. You got to remember this was the auto industry in it's day."
The ride by the Wheelmen had riders of all ages. All riders enjoy educating others and telling the history of the high wheel bicycles. There was also a demonstration of some the tricks riders can do. "It's really fun once you get to master a trick and then you get to show it normally during a parade and then there's lots of applause and everyone really goes wild to see you do something really interesting like you sit with your legs over the handle bars or make a stack ride with everyone holding each others arms. It's really cool." said rider Amy Oleynik. The high wheel bicycle demonstration was part of the Wheelmen's annual national part and tied in with Findlay's bicentennial celebration.
