Smíchov’s cycling pioneers: 145 years since founding of Czech Velocipedists’ Club
On November 16, 1880, the Czech Velocipedists’ Club was established in Prague’s Smíchov district. It was the very first cycling club in the territory of what was then Austria-Hungary. It was founded by brothers Josef and František Kohout, sons of a Smíchov factory owner, who first saw a bicycle thanks to an English visitor. Their enthusiasm launched not only bicycle production in Bohemia but also organized cycling life.
From “Boneshakers” to a European Record
The first bicycles appeared in the Czech lands as early as 1867, in the form of heavy wooden machines nicknamed “boneshakers.” But true cycling development began about a decade later.
In 1879, a family of an Anglican clergyman moved into the house of factory owner Jan Kohout. The clergyman’s young relative, William Beo Crowl, brought with him a modern steel bicycle with rubber tires. His machine caused great excitement among the factory owner’s sons, who convinced their father to start producing bicycles.
A Journey to Vienna as Advertisement
In the summer of 1880, the Kohout brothers set out on bicycles to Vienna. The journey was more than 300 kilometers, and they completed it in just two and a half days, faster than the postal stagecoach of the time. Their ride attracted public and media attention and served as excellent advertising for their newly manufactured bicycles.
The Founding of the Club and Its Significance
A year later, the Czech Velocipedists’ Club Smíchov was founded — the first cycling club in the entire monarchy. Its members organized joint rides, artistic cycling displays, races, and cultural events.
The club became the foundation for what would later become the Czech Cycling Federation, the oldest national sports organization in the Czech Republic.
Not Everyone Was Enthusiastic
Cyclists often faced misunderstanding. In rural areas, people considered them eccentric troublemakers who frightened livestock. Even Miroslav Tyrš, the founder of the Sokol movement, criticized cycling as vanity and a pursuit of profit.
Moreover, a bicycle was a luxury item, costing up to 500 gulden, roughly equivalent to a civil servant’s annual salary.
The End of the High-Wheel Era and a European Record
High-wheel bicycles were soon replaced by safety bicycles with equal-sized wheels, but Jan Kohout’s factory produced around 900 “Kohout bikes” by 1891.
Josef Kohout also made history by setting a European record in 1885, covering 400 kilometers in 24 hours.
A Tradition That Lives On
The Czech Velocipedists’ Club Smíchov was revived in 1993 under the name Czech Velocipedists’ Club 1880. It continues the tradition by organizing events such as the Prague Mile, vintage bicycle rides, and cultural gatherings.
