bicycle museum of america

And I don't say that lightly.I'm not normally a bicycle enthusiast, and I admit I wasn't all that enthusiastic about visiting bike museum, but the 11 of us (family) stopped by over our Xmas get-together and I'm glad we did.From the minute we walked in, we were all blown-away by the staff member who was on-duty at the time as well as all the museum has to offer.Our party ranged in age from 11 to nearly 80 and we all really enjoyed every minute of it.First, our host explained the layout and history of the museum, then showed us to a theater room where we watched an interesting video of a live outdoor demonstration of early bicycles by "The Wheelmen", a dedicated group of cycle historians.From there, we all roamed about the place and viewed the vast and amazing collection of bikes (and other related vehicles/things). There is a full-range of bikes from the ancient through modern with military and special-purpose along the way. There are some very special and very modern bikes there too. True works of art are on display from every age.When we found the interactive vehicles, we all became children. We pedaled the two-person car and bounced" the elliptical bicycle and had a blast.In addition to the bikes themselves, there are gems, tools, a couple of weapons (bike-mounted), and huge Civil War flag.Add in the excellent and vastly well-informed staff and this place is simply not to be missed.

Talk about an excited Boy!...... When my femme read out the words, high-wheelers, bone-shakers, velocipedes, tandems, i knew i was in bicycle esoterica-land. We were of to see this wonderful, collection of humanities multi-wheeled wonders. I don't think Leonardo da Vinci realised, when he sketched the bicycle drive chain in the late 15th century, the infinite variety of vehicles that would ensue around the globe. This bastion of Boyhood dreams, according to my femme observing the seal-like glee of her man, contains the 1898 Chilion ladies model, a wooden bike that didn't rust but tended to splinter at inopportune moments. My favourite is the 1960s Sting-Ray Orange Krate, which looked like it was ready to burn rubber with its stick-shift lever. It was sold in the late 1990s for $17,000. Some of the goodies on display here were dedicated to popular entertainers, such as cowboy crooner Gene Autry's 1950s beauty with jewelled fenders in rodeo-brown finish. My femme's best pick was the Shelby Donald Duck model made on my birth date,1949 that intrigued many a baby in the boomer generation with its Donald eyes that flashed and a horn that squeaked "quack-quack". Great memories.

When our hosts suggested we visit this museum, we were expecting to visit a quaint, small-town version of, perhaps, a Wright-brothers-like workshop. We were surprised and delighted to find a class museum deserving of the label "of America." On display are scores of bicycles from all eras, most of them in beautiful condition. In particular, there is a wonderful collection of cycles from the 1800's and early 1900's. If you have any interest at all in this type of history, this museum is worth going a long way out of your way to visit.

My husband really enjoyed this unique museum in a quaint town. It showed the first bicycle up to present day. The video was very informative and the welcoming person at the door was very personable.

Well worth the trip to New Bremen. Staff is friendly, outgoing; displays and museum are spotless and the price is right. Do not miss it if you're in western Ohio. Even if you're not in western Ohio :)http://www.sidneydailynews.com/news/community_news-home_top-news-travel/50338382/History-on-two-wheels#.U_UNzUuT3wI

This museum is surprisingly large and informative about the evolution and invention of bicycles. You'll see many different kinds of designs that were tried before the current two wheels with pedals in the middle and a chain to power the rear wheels became standard. There are a few bikes to try riding, and a bicycle powered car for kids to pedal upstairs. I would have liked to try some of the more exotic designs (the three wheelers and ones with the one very large and one very small wheel in particular) to see how they balance, but that's not allowed. It's hard to blame the museum for that, though, I don't know how a museum could let visitors try riding that much equipment.A bargain for the very modest admission charge and a nice way to spend half an hour to an hour in New Bremen.

This was great. It was recommended by a friend or we probably would have missed it. Spent well over an hour here. Staff were very friendly and helpful. Well worth the $2.00 admission price. We ate at the restaurant next door.

We were driving through town prior to an evening meeting and noticed the sign. I am a road biker and this seemed interesting. It was close to closing time, but a very congenial young man welcomed us to visit! This is an outstanding museum with beautiful bikes displayed very attractively. One doesn't need to be cyclist to enjoy this museum. Great way to spend a few hours. Interesting!

I have no idea how I had never heard of this place. I love bicycles, especially unusual/antique bicycles. And this place has hundreds. I absolutely loved the historic building, the beautiful lighting- the bikes simply shine! My husband and I attended during a Wheelman meeting so we were surrounded by friendly experts willing to offer a little more information about my favorite bikes. Awesome! New Bremen is certainly off the beaten path, but it's definitely worth the drive!

First understand, I am a bike rider, so I admit to more than average interest. I've driven up and down Rt. 75 between Toledo and Dayton dozens of times but never saw the sign for the Bicycle Museum before. I had the time so I decided to check them out. It was great. Located about 7 miles west of Rt. 75 in New Bremen, their building is on the left just as you come into town. Don't be deceived by the size, they are much larger than they appear to be, with the display spread over 3 floors.Start with the 10 min video then start walking. There can't be a better collection of restored bicycles in America. I think they said they have 1300 bike on display with more than that in storage that they rotate through. I'm sure many like the 1816 Draisenne, or 1954 Schwinn Black Phantom are a permanent display. Every bike I've ever heard of or seen was there. They have a brief write up on each bike, (though I wish they had the original selling price listed as well). They touch on the importance of bicycles on the women's movement but that could be explored a little more. The display is not just old bikes, they have a lot of new bikes and technology on display as well. I was there about 90 minutes and ran out of time. I barely got to see the 3rd floor but I will be back again.This was well worth the $3 fee.

Must, must, must, must see..3 bux to get in how can you go wrong... Amazing bikes, history, hands on... Variety , spanning 100 plus years.. From simple to siminal ..It's worth the ride from 75 to see a piece of Americana .

I was completely surprised to discover the Bicycle Museum of America in New Bremen, Ohio. Museums with the kind of scope of collection that this museum has are rarely found in small towns. The collection includes examples of some of the earliest bicycles made in Germany in the 1700's, ranging up to machines handcrafted in the last couple of years. There are examples of bicycle designs that may be the only known of their type left in the world! The chronology of bicycle design flows from foot-powered coaster bikes, through the high-wheel penny-farthing styles, through the earliest examples of more modern 'safety-bicycle' designs. Particularly interesting to me were the two examples of large-diameter monocycles, different from unicycles in that the rider sits in the centre of a very large single hubless wheel. One of the two examples was ridden in the closing ceremonies for the Beijing Olympics, and includes multicoloured LED lighting! All kinds of variations drive trains, suspension and frame designs are exhibited, as is the history of bicycle clubs and racing. I was also interested to learn that the bicycle had an important role to play in the early stages of the gender equality movement in the West, freeing women to travel in ways they had never been able to travel before.In addition to all the bike memorabilia, the museum also contains the Battle Flag carried by the local Regiment in the Civil War, and many other interesting artifacts that are not directly related to bicycles.Admission is only $3, and if you're interested in bicycling and want to know more about the history of this game-changing means of transportation, I'd highly recommend a visit to New Bremen and the Bicycle Museum!

If you're traveling through this part of the mid-west, be sure to save an hour for the Bicycle Museum of America. 3 floors of bicycles from the oldest to the newest innovations. Fun and interesting.

This was our second visit to the museum. They update the displays and do a very good job. It is fun to see the old bicycles as well as those we grew up with. Upstairs they even have some to try out. It is well-done.

we went to see this last Feb 2013, loads of bikes from WAY BACK and present day ,who has ever seen a wooden bike ,it was so interesting i ask the guy if i could take a handful of leaflets to put in other hotels we was visiting (new Orleans ,savanna),AND people ITS FREE (unless you want to make donation ,but no pressure to do so ) ,its a bit off the beaten track but worth the drive.