Good evening All,

There have been several threads on various Cyclist units and most recently "Dutchbarge" prompted the posting of several photographs. There seems to have been a lot of bikes in use. I have read of cyclist troops been used to supplement the role of cavalry for reconnaisance purposes early in the war but I wondered whether any Forum members have opinions on the effectiveness of the humble "bike" as a means of transport (and more) on the Western Front ?

Depends on where and for what they were used. Belgian cyclists as part of an armoured train manned by a joint Anglo Belgian crew proved quite effective in late 1914. The train provided the cyclists with artillery cover and they acted as very mobile mounted infantry who could be dropped off at one point by the train, strike the objective, and be picked up again at another place.
One shouldn't forget that the Germans first established the whereabouts of Russian forces at Tannenberg through the use of cycle scouts. Where warfare was reasonably mobile they proved very useful - once it became static they suffered from much the same problems as the cavalry. However its easier to ride a bike than a horse down a communications trench and it doesn't tend to leave souvenirs of its passing (good for the roses though) so bikers had a role as couriers. Bicycles rarely panic under fire and require no hay. If you leave them somewhere they are still there when you get back (except in Liverpool). Also very useful for security patrols (quiet for example) and for example the French canal system was protected from sabotage by cycle patrols.

I believe that bicycles were originally experimented with as early as 1870 but their use generally faded out during WWII. I would think that their use would have
been confined to reasonable roads, with the thin tyres of the times riding in sand or mud would have been impossible. Another point to consider is that a rifle's
recoil would have tossed off a rider so he would have to dismount to engage a target.
Positives for the bike however is that it does not need food and water but as cavalry was on the way out by the GW to be replaced, eventually by armoured vehicles bikes were
also becoming redundant.

LOL

Centurion's right; plenty of hard sand, gravel, or clay paths in dry weather - crossing fields even. Metalled roads available throughout F&F and an excellent method of cutting time out of distance. Even cavalry dismounted to engage most of the time. The charge with blazing guns is mostly fiction. Antony.

As did cavalrymen. Cyclists were 'mounted infantry' anyway. Before the war one cycling volunteer unit even mounted an air cooled Maxim on a three man quad bike. Unfortunately if fired on the move it would have blown the man who steered's head off. It had to unmounted for firing and the tripod was carried by another bike - not very practical.

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Cyclists were very popular in the Belgian army and apparently well armed.
The " carabinier cyclistes " used light machine guns (but not on the move !) at the start of the war (Hotchkiss lmg and probably even the Lewis machine gun). The original cyclist bataillon fought very well at the battle of Haelen.(08/1914) .The bicycles and the extensive belgian road network allowed for hit and run attacks on the advancing German forces.

All the armies used them. Faster than walking, much more reliable than motor transport of the time. If the mud is too thick, push or carry it until you get to a dry bit. If you come to a wall, chuck it over. Try that with a horse!

Not to mention the lack of serious hills. The Dutch were using cycling troops right up until WW2 (I have a nice shot of a cycle mounted band!).
As I said in my earlier post the Belgian cyclists proved very effective when used in conjunction with an armoured train. On another forum there was considerable discussion about the possibility that some Belgian cyclists carried Madsen automatic rifles - I think the verdict was the Scots 'Not Proven'

In fact almost all European armies (and the USA) had significant numbers of cyclist units and produced army pattern bikes. In Italy during WW1 there were two patterns of bike, one for infantry and one to be carried on armoured cars, motorised artillery and the like. Many military bikes could be folded so as to take up less room on trains, lorries etc [Again something that has proved difficult with horses]

A history of Belgian cyclists in " militaria Belgica " mention the Madsen in use in the " carabinier cyclistes " until 1912. The madsen was replaced by the Hotchkiss (Benet Mercé) (3 platoons of 2 guns).

The Lewis guns are a bit more of problem. There were either 12 or 16 purchased before the start of the war. A least one was used in a test as an aircraft mounted weapon. Another is used on one of the very first armoured cars (lt Charles Henkart). Now the carabinier cyclists frequently fought with these cars. Later in the war the mg platoons of the carabinier cyclists still used the lewis (the belgian infantry was equipped with the Chauchat) and finally the cyclist detachment in Russia used the Lewis as a light machine gun.

Interesting - the discussion I refered to was caused by some early war photos showing Belgian cyclists with what appeared to be Madsens slung across their backs so perhaps some hung on later than 1912.

The French had at least one dedicated cycle unit using the 'Gerard' bicycle. Captain Gerard at one time commanded the unit.
They were at first stationed at Longwy, but in 1912 they moved to Verdun.

Accounts of the German advance talk many times about German cyclists, often alone.

Hello,

At risk of being ruled out of court, I am reminded that bicycles were in use at the Royal Military Academy in the 1950,s. Cadets used them to move between places of instruction, sometimes as formed bodies in which case a version of cavalry drill was used. 'Prepare to mount' 'mount' etc. Cheap, effective and useful exercise.

Old Tom

The Divisional Cyclists in the picture below have disembarked at Le Havre and are on A10 to Alexandria. The cyclist on the right has ditched his partner so as to get his hands a spare machine:

http://www.archiveshub.ac.uk/apr04b.shtml

TR

Rommel mentioned such an example in his book 'Infantry Attacks', IIRC.

Robert

Sometimes they did not come "as single spies but in whole battalions"

Good evening All,

I was browsing through a recent biography of the Red Baron, who started WW1 in a German cavalry unit but also patrolled on bicycle. He recounts that whilst In Arlon he and his colleagues dismounted from their cycles to patrol further on foot only to find that when he returned his bike had been nicked !!!

[quote name='centurion' date='Oct 15 2009, 11:14 PM' post='1284258']
Not to mention the lack of serious hills. The Dutch were using cycling troops right up until WW2 (I have a nice shot of a cycle mounted band!).

I betcha they were'nt playing Colonel Boogie on the move though
D

Well something on the move (perhaps they were the original Dutch Swing College Band).

Those scousers get everywhere

To come back to Belgian cyclists: the first model bicycle used was the folding Belgica model, it was followed from 1911 by the FN model acathène (this apparently did not use a chain !!) (I've got no idea how this worked.

A shaft with a 90 degree gear at either end I think.

Difficult but not impossible, although possibly susceptible to wet conditions.

Fascinating thread this!

A nice shot of German cyclists

And not Ideal circumstances to mend a puncture

Mention of Richtofen brings up images of a bike with twin machine guns strapped to the top tube. No propeller to fire through - just point and press!
I do wonder about the puncture rate with hundreds of heavily laden men on bikes on rough roads and early 20th century tubes and tyres. Did they know something about puncture repair that we don`t? Or did they too have to strip out the tube and find some water to dip it in to find the hole?

Always this solution

I hate to carp, but the chap's got side creases in his trousers. The bounder.

Some of the photos posted and stories recounted appear almost comical viewed through modern eyes; by contrast I have difficulty imagining the terror of German cyclists been charged by French mounted chasseurs as happened in at least one of the opening skirmishes. Would they have chance to get off their bikes and fire ? I don't think they could out-pedal a horse ?

On a lighter note, as contributors have noted, the use of the bike in warfare quickly waned therefore we are spared the sight of feldgrau lycra !!!

The bicycle played a very important role in both the Korean and Vietnam war. The North Koreans moved large amounts of troops and material about at night using bicycles to avoid interdiction by UN aircraft. In the Vietnam was the bike was the main mode of transport on the Ho Chi Min trail. [Load up the bike with supply material and push it to the next staging post, cycle back for the next load]

The early war editions of the "Cycling" magazine went to some lengths to promote the bicycle in the fore-front of the action, with individual cyclists makes daring dashes through enemy lines. Another sketch showed a pair of officers on a tandem breaking through an ambush, the rear man engaging his opponents with his revolver. Another shows a powered bicycle in a similar situation. Incidentally, the " Motor Cycle" magazine showed similar deeds of derring-do: interestingly, the artist was the same for both magazines. Not only does this show how the press were quick to latch onto any method of increasing circulation, but also how unrealistic the view of warfare was in the early part of the conflict.


TR

There were some silly ideas about motor cycle pillion passengers firing on the move - see this pair of silly Bulgarians. Of course today the technique is often used for assasination.

Romel requisitioned some bicycles for his men at the village of Cosnes near Longwy on 21 August 1914. They went to the village of Bleid in Belgium and Rommel was there involved in his first action (Google it).

On the topic of the French cyclists at Longwy. The Germans used their presence as one of the excuses for invading Luxembourg on 2 August 1914 - they could have invaded Luxembourg which, therefore, needed 'protecting'.

Trouble is that the cyclists left Longwy and went to Verdun in 1912. Going to war on out of date and invented intelligence, now where have I heard about that before?

Some French cyclists not invading Luxembourg

This site:-
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/549085622EWNWUc
has a shot of the bike (or at least the same sprung tyres) in post #26, described as German Army 1915. There`s also a French military folding bike.

By 1918 Germany's shortage of rubber was so acute that sprung tyres were being used even on some heavy tractors. There were even experiments with them on some heavy bombers. I wonder if the bike had been captured.

BTW another French army folder

Click to view attachment
A belgian cyclist with a folding bike (now how practical is this ? )

Carl

Quite practical if he needs to cross broken ground and perhaps a fence or two before getting back on the bike. The Italians used cycle troops as breakthrough pluggers - a rapid response force. Cyclists could beat motorised troops over a reasonable distance as they could be up and away quicker than it took to get the lorries organised, loaded and formed into convoy. They could also beat the lorries if the approach road had been shelled [reach shell hole, dismount wheel or carry bike around, remount, off again] and take off road short cuts as this Belgian soldier is equipped to do.

As late as 20th October 1918 the Yorkshire Dragoons used bikes to pursue the retreating enemy and helped capture the villlage of Vichte

A Canadian Cyclist was the first of the allied armies to cross the Bonn Bridge into Germany.



On August 29 the Canadian cyclists attacked and captured three enemy trenches near Jigsaw Wood in the face of heavy artillery fire. This operation was necessary in order to protect the left flank of the Canadian Corps.



In the last 100 days Canadian cyclists captured a number of towns. By this stage every fourth rider carried a Lewis gun.

As I said at the begining of the thread it all depends on when and where.

top class thread,thanks and great reading


very impressed on the armoured train and cyclist attachments

the cycles were very effective on the whole in the great war
but dont the pictured cycling soldiers look sheepish on those magnificent velocipedes

There is a photo in an illustrated book on the Victorian and Edwardian army entitled 'Cyclists preparing to receive cavalry'. with a small group of cyclists, rifles ready standing in a ring of bicycles. The word wally definitely comes to mind - a horse was definitely something you could take cover behind.

A RPPC with message dated 30/1/15 from Grandpre. Feldpost stamp is dated 31 Jan 15 2/(? could be a 3)NFANT-DIVISION. The rifle mount is interesting.

Chris

Hopefully, this will show the detail clearly enough.

Chris

Thanks for the interesting photos everyone.

Chris, I suppose when on patrol they couldn't fire when cycling but it would be quicker to grab the gun from its fastening when dismounting than un-slinging a gun from over your shoulder. In a surprise encounter, when on patrol, those seconds could make all the difference.

I have read all the post with considerable interest: including those highlighting deploying from trains, carrying machine guns, outflanking the enemy, even apparently circled like a wagon train when under-attack; all of which prompt a supplementary question:

Was there any specific training or other tactics given or taught to the cyclists, apart from the more obvious ability to ride a bike and it being quicker than walking ? For example, the best way to dismount when under attack, cycle in single file/double file, space between bikes etc.....

Actually I suspect it would be quite awkward. You'd have to dismount, hold the bike up with one hand whilst unclipping the rifle with the other. Then let the bike drop and hold the rifle properly with both hands. Dismounting and letting the bike drop whilst unslinging the rifle would seem much quicker. I think the clipped rifle may have looked smarter though

Good afternoon Centurion,

Depending on the exact fastening, might it not be possible to grab the gun from its clip (or whatever) with one hand, whilst still in the saddle; then jump off the bike and bring the gun to bear ? I don't know but this is the sort of thing I was wondering, was there a taught/practised best method ?

This article gives a good account of the Australians use of cycles plus some general history and a bit on training and tactics
http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-20...-craze-AIF.html
We've had other threads on the subject see
http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/l...hp/t102866.html

BTW for any mods reading this - the uploaded pictures have all vanished leaving only those linked. When I tried to find this old thread the forum search engine ignored it (I found it via google). Is there some archiving policy that looses old threads?

The Swiss army still had 3 bicycle regiments in the late 1980s (and may still do for all I know).

The US army was sufficiently impressed by the North Vietnamese army's use of cycles as to look at the possibilities of using them themselves. One paper, 'Human powered vehicles in support of light infantry operations' by a Major Tate included some interesting history of military cycling. I thought this extract both relevant and interesting.

German raid on the Mt. St. Pere Bridge. Early .in the war the 1st Bicycle Company, Rifleman Battalion of Guards, 5th Cavalry Division of the German Army, conducted a 1914 version of "the deep attack." The objective of their attack was the vital bridge over the Marne river at Mt.St. Pere. French forces were using the bridge to bring reinforcements North for a counterattack into the advancing Germans.The bridge was twenty miles behind French lines, but was known to be well guarded. Because of the vital nature of the bridge, the French positioned an infantry company on the far bank. On the near bank another infantry company was positioned in support. Security was lax among the guard force. The Germans were thought to be more than a night's march away. Any approach by cavalry would be heard in time to give the alarm. On the night of 2 September 1914 the 1st Bicycle Company infiltrated through a gap in the French lines. Throughout the night the Company silently pedaled 35 Kilometers to the bridge. Traveling with the riflemen was a special detachment of engineers
whose mission was to destroy the bridge. In the predawn hours the Company moved into position. Part of the unit dismounted and took up firing positions to provide support for the attack. The rest of the unit plus the engineers remained mounted on the main road. Around first light the signal was given to begin the attack. The attack caught the French guard force totally by surprise-. The majority of Frenchmen were still asleep in their tents. Many of the soldiers on the French far
bank (nearest to the Germans) were annihilated in the initial fusillade by the support element. As the survivors staggered out of their tents they were cut down by the assault force rapidly pedaling for the bridge. Some of the Germans were even reported to have fired at the fleeing Frenchmen while still riding their bicycles! Once the assault force reached the bridge, the support force shifted its fire across the river. Concentrating on the French support company across the river, the cyclists' accurate rifle fire threw that unit into confusion. The engineers accompanied by a security element from the assault force raced across the bridge. They set the charges, lit the fuses and pedaled
back to their positions. As the bridge blew up the company remounted their bicycles and rapidly retreated to friendly lines. They had destroyed a vital bridge, annihilated one enemy company, and inflicted heavy casualties on another. In return their own casualties had been very light.

The same paper also describes how from September 25th to October 9th, 1914, Belgian cycle units, including a bicycle
engineer company operated behind the German lines in occupied Belgium raiding the railway lines and cutting them in 16 places.

How far would an army cyclist be expected to be able to cover in a day? Presumably they went on regular training "route rides" to enable them to cover large distances. Would they be quite selective about who they took in, something like the APTC?

In 1896 the first US Army's cyclist unit did an 800 mile trip, they managed to average about 42 miles in roughly an 8 hour day over roads that were not metalled, in the face of quite bad weather and in some places an unhelpful populance (they were a black unit). On shorter trips (say 120 miles) they could sustain 60 miles a day. A major cause of delay was that puncture proof tyres proved puncturable. Average speed was 6.3 mph

In answer to one of Steve's earlier questions techniques were developed - for example how to get your bike (and yourself) over a ten foot wall