Tandem bicycle

[mightymads]

I hadn’t given much thought to this scene before I had an idea of writing a tandem bicycle into my own fic. It turned out that this particular model is a tad anachronistic for 1881 when Watson and Stamford were discussing Holmes. The thing is, a Danish inventor Mikael Pedersen patented the first publicised tandem in 1898.

A velocipede (or a high-wheel bicycle) for two existed as early as 1886:

Smartly dressed couple seated on an 1886-model bicycle for two

By the way, ACD and his wife tried it out:

Arthur Conan Doyle and his wife Louisa on a double high wheel bicycle (August 1892).

A fun fact:

Given the tantalising but eminently respectable closeness that a tandem bicycle allowed for between the two riders, they quickly gained the moniker ‘courting bikes’, popular with couples who wanted to spend time together. The idea was that the gentleman would ride on the back seat and steer, while the lady could perch in the front with enough room for her skirts. That meant that all the controls were loaded to the rear passenger, the person in front could simply enjoy the ride.

Sources:
1. The Romantic History of Tandem Cycling
2. 1892: A Day with Dr. Conan Doyle, by Harry How (The Strand Magazine, UK)
3. Friday Facial Hair: It’s Date Night!

Comments

[rachelindeed]

Those are adorable photographs, and how neat that Doyle and his wife are among them! The velocipede sounds like a fun date to me! :)

Bicycling has played a role in a number of memorable Holmes romance fics over the years, though I can't remember any tandem fics! But these are some sweet stories where they cycle their way to true love:

The Incident with the Bicycle (2606 words) by Garonne
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Sherlock Holmes & Related Fandoms, Sherlock Holmes - Arthur Conan Doyle
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson
Additional Tags: Established Relationship
Summary:

We know Holmes can ride a bicycle, but when exactly did he learn?

And nlr alicia has written two in this vein:

The Courtship of Rabbits (H/W, rated NC17) Holmes and Watson challenge each other to a bicycle race, and suffice it to say they both wind up winning.

Sketches of Scotland: The Sign of the White Hart (H/W, not rated but I would say PG). Watson goes cycling in Scotland and sees more than one beautiful thing.

[mightymads]

Thanks so much for the recs! And yes, a bike for two is so romantic in any variation of it :)

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Interesting. I would not have known. I just did a watch of the whole Livanov Holmes canon and enjoyed it. I can't imagine ACD would pass up any sporting opportunity that came his way (tandem or otherwise).

[mightymads]

ACD was a jock :D I tried to imagine H&W on a high-wheel bicycle together, but it seemed too cracky. If it was a courting bike, most likely they wouldn’t have exposed themselves.