Harry Nettleton’s 1907 RaCycle Pace Maker

1907 RaCycle

There are a lot of names here so lets see… This is the Pace Maker model RaCycle, and RaCycles were made by the Miami Cycle and Manufacturing company of Middleton, Ohio.

Bikes like this one followed high-wheelers onto the cobbled streets of early 1900’s America. With newly invented roller chain and pneumatic tires, this would have been a luxuriously smooth ride compared to a Penny-Farthing.

One of the selling points of the Pace Maker was the massive front chainring (equivalent to a modern 84-tooth ring) that was meant to attract attention and suggest higher speed (but the big ring was actually offset by a big back cog that ended up producing a comfortable gear ratio).

The new air-filled tires were mounted (using shellac as glue) to wooden rims (maple, I think).

Head badge

Adjustable handlebar

Oversized drivetrain

Fork pegs

42 skip-tooth chainring

A RaSaddle?

The handlebars on the Pace Maker are really cool. They pivot at the stem, and can be adjusted in width and height, depending on a rider’s desire.

Foot pegs on the front fork allowed the rider to enjoy speeding downhill on his fixed-gear bike. Sure, without your feet on the pedals to control the speed there would be no brakes, but brakes are overrated.

Racycle advertisement

Check out the old ad that we found for RaCycle bikes. The copy in old advertising and press releases like this one was so earnest. According to the manufacturer, a 1904 Worlds Fair jury “consisting of the ablest consulting and manufacturing engineers in Europe and America, were unanimous in their decision that the Racycle was the most perfectly constructed, easiest running bicycle in the world.”

However they were judged, early “safety” bicycles like this one really brought inexpensive personal transportation to the masses. They connected people with jobs and schools, connected rural areas of the country with cities, connected extended families (and liberated family members from one another).

This bike was originally owned by Harry Nettleton of Red Wing, Minnesota. Harry raised the original $16.50 purchase price by collecting clam shells from the Minnesota river and selling them to a local button factory.

By the way, if you take a look at the Iver Johnson Truss-bridge bike from the same era, you’ll note that the RaCycle was about a third of the price of the Iver Johnson.

Shimano Di2 Electronic

Shimano Di2 Electronic Components

Shimano Dura-Ace 9070 Di2 components

Shimano Dura-Ace 9070 Di2 components

With Shimano’s Di2 electronic component groups, you can count on flawless shifting and braking performance. Dura-Ace and Ultegra mechanical drivetrains are pretty close to perfect. The Di2 electronic versions of these groups actually are perfect.

Have you heard about Shimano’s electronic shifting? Ever tried it?

With Di2 equipment, you can ride and maintain your bike like an idiot. The components work flawlessly in rain, mud, under pressure going uphill, with a squeaky dry chain, and even when filthy and heavily worn. There aren’t any steel shift cables to corrode or stretch out, no mechanical shifters to wear out. The front derailleur trims itself so you won’t hear the chain rubbing on the derailleur, and you will probably never drop a chain.

Ultegra Di2 electronic group

Ultegra Di2 electronic group

Consider electronic components as an upgrade to your existing bike, or come in and check out a new bike with the gear already to go.

If you already have Di2 shifting and you aren’t experiencing anything that you’d consider “perfect”, bring your bike in. We have built and serviced dozens of bikes with this equipment, we’re trained on proper set-up, and we can even customize your shifter speed and change some of the special functions.

By paul|2021-05-03T23:49:35+00:00October 26th, 2013|Components|0 Comments