← Back to Articles | Original (German)
When it comes to bikes, everyone has a specific preference. It may range from the handy folding bike to the mountain bike to the legendary racing bike. Many of these aspects can be found in two books that inspire with expert explanations and numerous pictures in a historical look back to the 19th century.
The author trio Matthias Marschik, Edgar Schütz & Wolfgang Wehap presents a comprehensive history of the bicycle in Austria, the eight chapters of which, each followed by short introductions, bring brilliant images. In the foreword (from page 8) we find the history of the bicycle, starting with the balance bike of Karl Freiherr von Drais (1785–1851) from Mannheim. As early as 1818 it was manufactured by the "K.K. Hofackerwerkzeug- und Maschinenfabrik Anton Burg und Sohn" in Vienna.
The next burst of innovation was the drive with pedals on the front wheel; the Vélocipède was invented. In 1869 there was the “Vienna Vélocipède Club”. The next innovation, drive via chain over the rear wheel, was not long in coming. The “Safety” – the term comes from England – stood for the “lower safety wheel”, which followed the spectacular penny farthing. With the onset of industrial production, the initially elitist bicycle became the individual means of transport for the masses. In the 21st century it is experiencing a renaissance in modifications as an e-bike and cargo bike.
The first of the eight chapters deals with the omnipresence of the wheel, "in the city, in the country, in the photo studio" (from page 10). The images shown here, mostly black and white, present the bike as an achievement that people would also enjoy being photographed with in the photo studio. There are also impressions from cycling trips and rare snapshots of men with women's bikes and vice versa. Content-rich and precisely located captions run as a common thread through the book.
"Up to cycling and emancipation through 'safety'" pays tribute to the historical component of the bicycle. “The bicycle in competition” shows how the bike initially prevailed over horses and then later asserted itself against mopeds and motorcycles. The wheel as an economic factor is also paid homage in a separate chapter. On page 116 we see a trend from the 1970s: the folding bike that was easy to pack in the trunk.
A few subjects have been selected from the vast array of images. On page 168 we see Wolfgang Steinmayr and Rudolf Mitteregger on the Glockner during the Tour of Austria, both without bicycle helmets - unthinkable today! In the celebrity chapter we meet Thomas Bernhard, Arthur Schnitzler, Theodor Herzl and the audience favorite Peter Alexander as well as the politicians Erwin Pröll, Helmut Zilk and Elke Kahr. Of course, there is also room for artists and clowns on wheels. In 1949, Josef Eisenmann thrilled the people of Vienna with a tightrope walk over the Danube Canal (page 160).
Almost every aspect is represented here, cycle paths, bicycle demonstrations or a permit from 1896 (page 128), which was valid for one year in the Vienna police district: a topic that is also being discussed in the 21st century.
Florian Holzer is known as a gastro critic who has written weekly columns in the Falter newspaper for many years. The “culinary expert”, according to the Styria publishing house, where he published two bicycle books about pleasure cycling, is also a “vintage bicycle aficionado”.
The beautifully designed “Rannradliebe” (Falter-Verlag) is his personal declaration of love for racing bikes with patina and history. Holzer wrote the text, Philipp Horak and Klaus Fritsch, photographers, captured the bikes from the 1970s to 1990s with great attention to detail, which is expressed in the four-part subtitle, "Vintage - Passion - Technology - Cult".
When Holzer writes in the foreword ("It's a passion ....") "You don't ride an old bike, you ride with it...", I can certainly understand that as a weapon bike lover who can at best compete in the "vintage" and "cult" categories. Even if racing bikes imply speed, the book is about a decelerated, analog world with plenty of room for details and precise handwork.
The book begins with an ode to patina (page 8), which is in any case preferable to a new coat of paint. "It not only robs the racing bike of its identity and history, it also reduces its value." The first of the four sections is dedicated to 23 legendary bikes from the late 1970s and 1980s, each of which is described and illustrated on two pages.
Among the almost exclusively Italian bikes, two local brands stand out: the Puch Mistral Ultima and the Simplon 5* from Vorarlberg. Part two is dedicated to bicycle aficionados. These are portraits of people like Wendelin Hirzberger, who collects Puch bicycles, or the retired pharmacist Helga Leitner, who sat on a racing bike for the first time at the age of 50.
Pages 104 to 159 belong to the components, i.e. saddles, brakes, gearshift levers, pedals, bottom brackets, etc. Thanks to the photos taken with great attention to detail, you perceive them as works of art. The final documentation asks questions like "Is this worth anything?" answered. Holzer says: “It doesn’t take much to have fun with an old racing bike. […] Every soul ticks differently.” (page 163).
One final tip: If you don't (yet) collect racing bikes, you could start with bike catalogs. "They don't take up much space and don't get dirty." The beautiful racing bike book closes with this sentence on page 191.
Conclusion: "Austria rides a bike - 150 years of cycling history in pictures" fascinates with the diversity of bicycle images between the 19th and 21st centuries across all social classes. “Road Bike Love: Vintage – Passion – Technology – Cult” is a beautifully made, tastefully laid out declaration of love for racing bikes with all the details and stories. (Thomas Hofmann, May 1, 2026).