60s and 70s Bicycle Photos from the Minneapolis Star and Tribune Archives

I was in the Minnesota Historical Society Gale Library the other day and came across a folder in the old Star and Tribune photo archive marked "bicycling".

Here's what I found!

The well-tanned woman -- probably in her 60s -- told the owner of a St. Paul bicycle store that she was looking for a bike for her granddaughter.

It took some coaxing on Art Engstrom's part to convince her to try riding a few models ("Well, O.K., if you promise not to laugh at me"). She took at few wobbly spins around the parking lot and then reluctantly admitted that the bike was for herself, not for her granddaughter. August 8, 1971.

Fred Seebach rides his bicycle religiously. He pedals to church.

He also pedals about 22 miles daily to and from work. And he admits to riding it for fun as well.

"I'm only 16 years old when I'm on that thing," said Seebach, 52, in an interview this week.

Seebach is among a growing number of Minneapolis employees taking their bikes to work. The evidence is increasing numbers of bicycle racks installed around town.

Some of the more recent are on the plaza of the First National Bank of Minneapolis. July 18th, 1972.

Cyclists proceed against one-way auto traffic on a University Campus Street.

Two bicyclists ran a red light on busy University Av. and, without signaling, swung left onto 14th. Av. SE.

"Get over," yelled a motorist at the two cyclists who were taking up most of the narrow road.

Then there was the bicyclists using an entrance to the Highway 35W bridge as an exit ramp. July 18, 1972.

Donald M. Spencer (left) puts his bike away in one of several racks around the plant. Others shown: Donald J. Smith and Tony Grabowske. January 9, 1966.

Mrs. Estelle Peterson, 5012 Washburn Av. St., has ridden her bicycle around Lake Harriet for 34 years. She is the window of Edward Peterson, who was a Minneapolis businessman. She learned to ride a bike shortly after her marriage.

Mrs. Peterson still uses her original bicycle occasionally, although she now has a second, which she "inherited" from a nephew.  October 8, 1962,

Lynn Thesenga, 3 (left) and her younger sister Wendy, 1, got all the enjoyment of riding down the River Road on bicycles but without any work. Their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Thesenga, 3729 44th Av. S., provided the power. August 10th, 1967.

Saddle baskets and tourist bags.

Wheelers and others on a fine day at Lake Harriet. May 7, 1969.