The Lost Cyclist: The epic tale of an American adventurer and his mysterious disappearance by David V. Herlihy

Nov 14, 2010 Ryan rated it 2 of 5 stars

Social networks collate travel photos, Lonely Planet and its competitors find hotels, and travelogues have become so numerous that we can spend months exploring them before going to the airport. Perhaps the best way to find the unknown is to read a travelogue from the 19th century. David V. Herilhy, author of Bicycle: The History, offers a two-for-one deal: a travelogue and an epic tale of adventure and mystery.

Back in the 1890s, Frank Lenz set out from Pittsburgh to cycle around the world alone...more Social networks collate travel photos, Lonely Planet and its competitors find hotels, and travelogues have become so numerous that we can spend months exploring them before going to the airport. Perhaps the best way to find the unknown is to read a travelogue from the 19th century. David V. Herilhy, author of Bicycle: The History, offers a two-for-one deal: a travelogue and an epic tale of adventure and mystery.

Back in the 1890s, Frank Lenz set out from Pittsburgh to cycle around the world alone. He would be one of the first travelers to use the "safety" model -- a bicycle with two tires of equal size! Before this, Thomas Stevens of England had circled the globe on his high wheel. How old school.

Lenz' route was perhaps unusual in that he chose to head west from Pittsburgh. He crossed America, the Pacific, and Japan before entering Shanghai and heading south. From here, Lenz' troubles began. He survived the Far East only to be murdered shortly after entering Turkey. The second half The Lost Cyclist depicts William Sachtleben's attempt to find Lenz' murderers.

Although the bicycles were certainly different at this time, other aspects of Lenz' journey are surprisingly familiar. Even at this time, there was commentary about whether China would supplant the West as the next global empire and General Li is curious to know how travelers find China's roads (FYI - China has recently invested a great deal in its highways). Many of Lenz' observations about chopsticks and ordering food can still be found in many a travel blog. Sadly, the blanket assumptions about the Orient are still combated in today's travelogues.

Of course, some things were different.

There was no Internet, for one, and although photography had been invented, it wasn't as though Lenz grew up with photos and videos of Chinese New Year celebrations.

However, the British Empire at this point had set up telegraphs. Lenz was also able to mail spare parts -- extra tires, for example -- before he began his journey. After leaving the docks, most of the Westerners that could be found in Asia were either missionaries or diplomats. Interestingly, when the Hamidian Massacres began in Turkey, it was the job of the diplomat to protect the missionaries.

Although Herlihy has done his homework on bicycles and he has obviously spent considerable time with travel diaries from this period, he offers very little explanation about what's going on in China and Turkey. For example, Lenz is often attacked while in China, but there is no explanation as to why. There is a great deal of unrest in Turkey, but Herlihy assumes that his audience is familiar with this stage of the Ottoman Empire's decline. The British Empire has done a lot of work to make the planet a smaller, simpler place, but Herilhy declines to consider its impact on Lenz' journey -- even though Lenz relies on the empire's infrastructure to communicate with his home and his sponsors. I found these gaps frustrating and sometimes wondered if they weren't irresponsible as well.

The Lost Cyclist is interesting for its history of the bicycle as well as for comparison to other travelogues of the period -- Joshua Slocum's Sailing Alone Around the World comes to mind -- but I found it a disappointment.(less)

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Aug 23, 2011 Adrian added it

This book is set in the 1890s when cycling was new and hot. A few young guys took the craze to the limit by attempting to cycle around the world. William Sachtleben completed the feat with his partner Allen (500 miles of it by ship) and later Frank Lenz of Pittsburgh tried to do it solo going west rather than east. He made it all the way to Turkey (carried his bicycle thru most of western China and Burma) where he disappeared. His sponsor, a cycling magazine, sent Sachtleben out to find him. Unf...more

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May 13, 2013 Leon rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In the late 1880s, Frank Lenz of Pittsburgh, a renowned high-wheel racer and long-distance tourist, dreamed of cycling around the world. He finally got his chance by recasting himself as a champion of the downsized “safety-bicycle” with inflatable tires, the forerunner of the modern road bike that was about to become wildly popular. In the spring of 1892 he quit his accounting job and gamely set out west to cover twenty thousand miles over three continents as a correspondent for Outing magazine

...more

In the late 1880s, Frank Lenz of Pittsburgh, a renowned high-wheel racer and long-distance tourist, dreamed of cycling around the world. He finally got his chance by recasting himself as a champion of the downsized “safety-bicycle” with inflatable tires, the forerunner of the modern road bike that was about to become wildly popular. In the spring of 1892 he quit his accounting job and gamely set out west to cover twenty thousand miles over three continents as a correspondent for Outing magazine. Two years later, after having survived countless near disasters and unimaginable hardships, he approached Europe for the final leg.

He never made it. His mysterious disappearance in eastern Turkey sparked an international outcry and compelled Outing to send William Sachtleben, another larger-than-life cyclist, on Lenz’s trail. Bringing to light a wealth of information, Herlihy’s gripping narrative captures the soaring joys and constant dangers accompanying the bicycle adventurer in the days before paved roads and automobiles. This untold story culminates with Sachtleben’s heroic effort to bring Lenz’s accused murderers to justice, even as troubled Turkey teetered on the edge of collapse.

Amazon.com Review

Amazon Best Books of the Month, June 2010: Frank Lenz was a man driven by his passions. As an accomplished "wheelman" during the late 19th century, Lenz’s dreams were dominated by the emerging sport of cycling and an intense desire to make a name for himself. In May of 1892, he attempted to fuse both by embarking on a quest to circumscribe the globe by bicycle. The journey had already been accomplished in tandem, but Lenz upped the ante--and raised eyebrows--by announcing he would ride his dangerous route alone. The Lost Cyclist is a riveting tale of tragedy, pride, and naivete that is both brilliantly told and meticulously researched. Opinions may differ as to whether Lenz was unaware or unconcerned by the inherent dangers he faced, but the story of his fateful journey belongs on the varied shelves of cycling enthusiasts, mystery fans, and nonfiction devotees alike. --Dave Callanan

Product Description
In the late 1880s, Frank Lenz of Pittsburgh, a renowned high-wheel racer and long-distance tourist, dreamed of cycling around the world. He finally got his chance by recasting himself as a champion of the downsized "safety-bicycle" with inflatable tires, the forerunner of the modern road bike that was about to become wildly popular. In the spring of 1892 he quit his accounting job and gamely set out west to cover twenty thousand miles over three continents as a correspondent for Outing magazine. Two years later, after having survived countless near disasters and unimaginable hardships, he approached Europe for the final leg.

He never made it. His mysterious disappearance in eastern Turkey sparked an international outcry and compelled Outing to send William Sachtleben, another larger-than-life cyclist, on Lenz's trail. Bringing to light a wealth of information, Herlihy's gripping narrative captures the soaring joys and constant dangers accompanying the bicycle adventurer in the days before paved roads and automobiles. This untold story culminates with Sachtleben's heroic effort to bring Lenz's accused murderers to justice, even as troubled Turkey teetered on the edge of collapse.

A Look Inside *The Lost Cyclist*
(Click on Images to Enlarge)

Lenz (far right) in Glenshaw, with W. T. McClarren and Charles Petticord Lenz (far left) and Petticord (center) on Smithfield bridge, leaving for New Orleans. August 1891From left to right: Petticord, McClarren, Lenz, and identified friend near Natrona. Note Lenz's homemade umbrella.Lenz in Washington, PA

Lenz and Petticord meet two "safety" riders on the National Road in Lewisville, IN, August 1890Lenz tips his cap in Greenfield, IN. August 1890Lenz and Petticord in Effingham, IL, on their way to St. Louis, August 1890 along the National RoadPetticord and Lenz in Collinsville, IL, August 1890.

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. When the bicycle first gained popularity in the 1880s, intrepid daredevils were quick to seize upon it as a tool of exploration and an indicator of resourcefulness. Frank Lenz and William Sachtleben were two such enthusiasts. Sachtleben and a partner had gained notoriety for cycling almost across the globe, including through China, a region that was alien to Westerners at the time (they traversed particularly difficult sections by train). But Lenz proposes something truly dangerous: he will cycle the entire world alone, and he won't shy away from the hard parts. Lenz's exploits become the talk of the cycling world, but don't reach prominence in America until he disappears in eastern Turkey, a hairsbreadth from reaching his goal. Sachtleben is sent to Turkey to investigate and ends up wading through government corruption, tribal alliances, and a region in the throes of revolution. This meticulously-researched account exposes readers to an unfamiliar world. Readers with a love of cycling or curiosity about this moment in history will appreciate Herlihy's knowledge and passion, but the simply curious may feel at times like they're pedaling uphill.

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May 11, 2013 Elvis Brown rated it 3 of 5 stars

It's very different reading non-fiction compared to fiction. In some ways the story, plot and ending are already done and all that needs doing is threading it together. Then again in some ways maybe it's harder to write non-fiction because you are bound by the facts and if the facts are not that interesting then....

There really were some fascinating moments in this book. Franl Nez's trip through countries and place where white people had seldom be seen and bicycles even less.

If you take this boo...more

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Sep 09, 2011 james rated it 3 of 5 stars

In the latter part of the 19th century, bicycling became enormously popular in America. It started with the very high wheeled bike with a tiny trailing wheel. These were cumbersome and dangerous. About 1890 there appeared a new type of bicycle called the safety bike. The photos in this book show the safety bicycle, whose design is exactly the same as modern bikes - minus such refinements as brakes and gears.

This book, in addition to giving the reader a glimpse into the world of cycling 120 year...more

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Sep 06, 2011 Jenny Brown rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is one of those rare but enjoyable histories that takes you places you know nothing about and delivers some powerful twists. I assumed I was going to be learning mostly about the history of cycling, which I did. But this particular cyclist blundered into the Armenian massacre that took place under Turkish rule--a tragic genocide unknown to most Americans. So what starts out as a sepia tinged tale of the Gay '90s turns into a tragic story of how westerners with tunnel vision, meddling in pol...more

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Sep 23, 2010 Joemmama rated it 4 of 5 stars

In the 1890's bicyclists were called wheelmen. The were transitioning from the high wheeled boneshakers to what was called a safety bike, similar to the bikes we ride today.

Frank Lenz was a wheelman, he participated in racing, and long distance rides, hoping to escape his boring life as an accountant. His goal was to ride around the world on a bicycle by himself.

He had watched as William Sachtleben and a partner, traveled around the world, and he felt he would succeed solo.

Hardship was part of t...more

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Apr 09, 2010 Lydia Presley rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, non-fiction, travel

I was mildly disappointed by this book. The story, in the summary, seemed like an incredible one and I couldn't wait to get started.

The book is broken up into manageable parts each covering a country traveled. It's a fascinating story, once you actually dig through the somewhat dry text to get to it and I'm glad I pushed my way through the book, but.. yes, it was dry reading.

I think one of my favorite parts of the book was in the beginning. Up until reading this book I'd never considered how dif...more

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Jun 08, 2011 Emma rated it 3 of 5 stars

I am conflicted about this book: I enjoyed the topic: cyclists traveling the world at the end of the 19th century, taking pictures, and one of them mysteriously disappearing, in areas where sometimes no other Western man had ever gone. The snippets about landscape and people are short but give a good idea. The synopsis of the book is actually confusing: it just speaks about the Lost Cyclist, and it sounded like another guy was looking after him after his disappearance – he does, but only later o...more

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Dec 16, 2011 Robertisenberg rated it 5 of 5 stars

One of the most enjoyable histories I've ever read -- largely because of the subject, but also because Herlihy tells such a gripping, romantic, mysterious story. His research is impeccable, and the narrative pedals along as steadily as a bike on rough roads. Although his story is tragic, Frank Lenz has become a new hero of mine, for his humble Pittsburgh origins, his tenacious "globe-girdling" venture, and his martyrdom in the name of anthropology of adventure. I wanted to begrudge his rivals (o...more

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Aug 02, 2010 Rose rated it 5 of 5 stars

History is rife with fascinating but forgotten cases of lost explorers and unsolved murders. David Herlihy’s The Lost Cyclist includes both. It also spotlights the bicycle craze of the 1890s and the Gilded Age passion for conquering unknown territory.

In the spring of 1892 Frank Lenz, a modestly famous competitive cyclist from Pittsburgh, announced that he was undertaking a trans-continental bicycle trip that would encompass over twenty thousand miles and take him through some of the world’s most...more

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Dec 25, 2010 Gpickle rated it 3 of 5 stars

I rate this book as one that I liked the idea of reading more than I enjoyed actually reading.

To be sure the book has a lot going for it, if you are into this kind of thing. It has wonderful photography. It has lots of information about the early days of bicycles here in the US, and around the world, too! It has excerpts from letters written by Americans in places like China from the 1890s. Pretty crazy stuff contained within. But this book also has a lot not going for it. It is such a painstaki...more

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Feb 23, 2011 Driftless rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: biography, cycling

I was surprised that I'd never heard of this before. In 1892, an adventuresome accountant from Pittsburgh named Frank Lenz decided to ride his bicycle around the world. Starting in his home town, looping through New York City and then heading west across North America, he would take in the sites and see the world. Taking a brief hiatus, he shipped to Honolulu and then Japan before tackling a westward crossing of the massive and dangerous Asian continent. As the title of David V. Herlihy's biogra...more

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Mar 24, 2011 Patricia rated it 5 of 5 stars

I love the history of the bicycle and how it opened up travel to many. In the 1880's adventures vied to be the first to make longer and longer voyages astride their wheels.The globe had been girdled by two yung men whose story is sumerized in this book. Frank Lenz decided to beat their time while taking pictures....with the newly invented photograph equipment....and ending back dispatches to a cycling magazine. He is warned not to enter an area of tribals wars. He does not heed the warning and h...more

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May 10, 2013 Jay Phillippi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: history-biography

Herlihy covers the challenges and trials of the trip with a story teller's skill. From Lenz's early days in racing and touring through the many challenges that would face him before he even made it to Turkey the author draws you into the tale. The rider is often his own worst enemy while at the same time his courage and incredible physical determination take him past obstacles that would have balked any ordinary person. The story follows right through the investigation launched into his death an...more

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May 30, 2010 J.R. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: biography-autobiography

In this less adventurous age and less energetic society the idea of riding a bicycle around the world is not calculated to draw much enthusiastic response. Doing it in the 1890s required more than the normal quotient of courage and stamina.

In that period when the bicycle was the focus of an enthusiastic boom riders were going distances that stagger the imagination today. Herlihy has rescued from obscurity the amazing story of not just one heroic adventurer but also that of the brave and resource...more

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Feb 02, 2013 Polly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult, adventure, biography-memoir, historical, non-fiction

I really enjoyed this--I love a peep into worlds that I don't know much about (early cycling) and added to a good adventure story, it's hard to resist--but I was somewhat irritated by the ending. I don't really feel that paragraphs speculating about what might have happened to people who died if they hadn't died are in good taste, and added to some rather random musing about what the truth about Lenz's disappearance actually might have been, I felt the last 20 pages or so did rather a dis-servic...more

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Jun 25, 2011 Mary rated it 3 of 5 stars

Overly long but interesting story about an American man who tried to cycle around the world in the late 1880's and subsequent search for him (after he disappeared) by another cyclist who had made the same journey (in the opposite direction) a few years earlier. I'm amazed by the level of detail (from letters from the missing cyclist as well as later interviews from the man who went to find him) but the story often gets bogged down in too much trivial detail and takes WAY too long to get the "det...more

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Mar 26, 2012 Dan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In short, this was a good story that fell a little flat in the telling.

The most interesting parts of this book were pretty much all in the first half, as Herlihy brings us through the early days of the bicycle, with bicycle clubs popping up all over the nation and cyclists debating the merits of the newer "safety" bicycle (with its two equally sized wheels) versus the "high wheeler." By the time the book ends, the glory days of cycling are past, with the automobile supplanting the bicycle as the...more In short, this was a good story that fell a little flat in the telling.

The most interesting parts of this book were pretty much all in the first half, as Herlihy brings us through the early days of the bicycle, with bicycle clubs popping up all over the nation and cyclists debating the merits of the newer "safety" bicycle (with its two equally sized wheels) versus the "high wheeler." By the time the book ends, the glory days of cycling are past, with the automobile supplanting the bicycle as the touring vehicle of choice and bicycle manufacturers going belly-up. This should be a dramatic moment in the tale, but it ends up being treated as little more than a footnote.

The focus of the book is, ostensibly, Frank Lenz, an early adopter of the bicycle who vanished while on his solo round-the-world bike trip. The focus of book really is William Sachtleban, one of a pair of cyclists whose own round-the-world trip was wrapping up as Lenz's was beginning, and the man who was eventually tasked with travelling overseas to track down the truth of what happened to Lenz.

But the focus of the book should have been the glory days of cycling. The emergence of cycling clubs, the abundance of cycling magazines, and the seemingly inexhaustible supply of funding for cycling globe-trotters paint a vivid portrait of a fascinating moment in history. These cyclists -- none of them the first to pedal around the world -- were feted at just about every city and town they entered, followed by parades of local cyclists and honored with great feasts.

The story of Lenz's trip wants to be more interesting than it is. It sounds good on paper, but the problem is that the final act -- the search for Lenz, which should be full if intrigue and adventure -- is comparatively dull. It mostly consists of a petulant Sachtleban whining his way through a morass of bureaucracy and logistics. What should have been dispatched in a chapter instead filled half of the book. And it's a shame, because to that point the book was telling a pretty great story; only, not on purpose.
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Dec 26, 2012 Melissa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction, travel

I enjoy books about travel, and was intrigued to find this book about a cyclist circling the world in the late eighteen hundreds. It was rare enough to make that journey by other transportation at that time, so to do it by bicycle was impressive. And since it's non-fiction, it's hard to believe that such feats where accomplished with the machines available at that time.

The Lost Cyclist tells three stories in a sense. The first being that of Sachtleben and Allen, two men who traveled around the w...more I enjoy books about travel, and was intrigued to find this book about a cyclist circling the world in the late eighteen hundreds. It was rare enough to make that journey by other transportation at that time, so to do it by bicycle was impressive. And since it's non-fiction, it's hard to believe that such feats where accomplished with the machines available at that time.

The Lost Cyclist tells three stories in a sense. The first being that of Sachtleben and Allen, two men who traveled around the world east to west on their bikes (albeit using alternative transportation where needed). The second story was that of Frank Lenz, a man who set out to do the same thing on his own, just in the opposite direction. Sadly Lenz did not make it back and disappeared in the region of Turkey. The third story would be that of Sachtleben who sets out to look for Lenz or his body and investigate what he believes to be murder. Of course a little history on the bicycle is thrown in as well.

The story of Allen and Sachtleben was actually quite interesting and my favorite part of the book. Which surprised me because really this book was about Lenz and his disappearance. But we never really knew as much about him and his personality and life wasn't as described as the other two wheelmen's were. So as much as I wondered what happened to him, it was in a detached sort of way. There also wasn't that much about the locals they met while on their journeys. Sure when Sachtleben was looking for Lenz's body it described some of the people he worked with, but more in line with the investigation instead of the person's life.

The whole premise of the book has an air of mystery and history to it. I enjoyed reading about some of the races and clubs that bicyclists had at the turn of the century and never would have expected it to be so prevalent. I also couldn't have imagined someone riding over such rough terrain on the bikes then as I can barely do it on a completely modern bike now. They must have been in terrific shape. Allen and Sachtleben's journey was well described and I must admit that I wish the entire book had been about it. It wasn't that Lenz journey wasn't as daring, it was just that the way his was described was very dry and since he disappeared, it turned into a mystery where much sitting around was done and nothing happened for the last third of the book. I admired Sachtleben's determination to find out what happened, but the author just wasn't able to pull off that part of the book well. I felt that so much was lost in the detail about who was signing what documents and what the diplomats weren't doing, that it lost focus on the fact that a cyclist had been murdered and instead just drowned you in the paperwork that went along with it. Which might explain some of the detachment I felt towards Lenz.

As an aside, this book did contain several journal entries, letters, and pictures that were collected by the travelers. It was neat to see some of the places they traveled and even some of the earlier photos, which were very well done for having the cameras enduring such rough travel. It just added to the authenticity and research for the book. It's clear that the author did do his due diligence in that regard.

If you enjoy cycling, or travel, or just like a non-fiction book about disappearances, this would probably be a good book for you. For me, it just wasn't engaging writing and it was hard for me to enjoy most of the book.

The Lost Cyclist
Copyright 2010
302 pages

Review by M. Reynard 2012

More of my reviews can be found at www.ifithaswords.blogspot.com (less)

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Aug 29, 2010 Michael rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: cycling

This was a good travel "adventure" story (or really, three stories) although it bogs down towards the middle of the third part. If I hadn't been on a plane with nothing much else to read (besides work stuff) I would have put it aside.

There are three parts to this - one is the story of the west-to-east bicycle travel of William Sachtleben and a friend in the first days of the "safety bicycle" (essentially a modern two wheeler but with hard tires), the second is the east-to-west travel of Frank Le...more This was a good travel "adventure" story (or really, three stories) although it bogs down towards the middle of the third part. If I hadn't been on a plane with nothing much else to read (besides work stuff) I would have put it aside.

There are three parts to this - one is the story of the west-to-east bicycle travel of William Sachtleben and a friend in the first days of the "safety bicycle" (essentially a modern two wheeler but with hard tires), the second is the east-to-west travel of Frank Lenz also by bicycle (who started a bit later, so he had inflatable tires), and the third part is the search by Sachtleben who goes out after his trip is completed to try to determine what happened to Lenz who was apparently murdered in Turkey and had disappeared, causing much hue and cry.

Herlihy did considerable research (described in an appendix), but Sachtleben and his friend described their travels in a book that is available freely on the Internet. "Across Asia on a bicycle; the journey of two American students ..." http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.390150... - this account is just as readable (if not more so) than Herlihy's, even today.

The book becomes almost unreadable towards the end with repetition of aspects of the essentially fruitless investigation of Lenz's death in Turkey. Also, an epilogue includes a chapter, "reflections," that has "what if" speculations that the author felt compelled to share - I am doubtful that this is a good way to end a non-fiction work since it throws aside all his research in favor of fantasyland.

Not that I could write any better, but the prose are a bit problematic as well. The two travelers described in the first part are continuously referred to as "the globe girdlers" rather than simply "they" and there is other similar usage that slows the flow of reading. There are adverbs that pointlessly offer the author's opinion on whatever is being described. (Like my use of "pointlessly" in that sentence. . . ) Most of these opinions we could either form ourselves based on what he has presented or perhaps even come to a different conclusion.

On the plus side, many books that are described as "travel by bicycle" (from any age) have little description of the bicycle-specific aspects other than that it is relatively slow travel and that in many travels, there is a novelty to the local population of an outsider being in their midst traveling by bike and how the locals react to the traveler because of that. Here some interesting (to me, anyway) aspects of the bicycles are described, which seems appropriate in particularly since this was the very early days of the safety bicycle (rather than the "ordinary bicycle" which was the bike that had a very large front wheel and small back wheel).(less)

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Jun 20, 2011 Laura rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010-mt-bookpile

This book had potential to be a 4 or even 5 star book, but the author made some unfortunate odd choices that lowered the final rating.

Set in the later 1800s, this is the story of the early days of cycling. Our hero, Lenz, starts on one of those odd-looking (to us) big wheels, slowly moving to the "safety" (what we think of as the normal bike). We learn a lot about those early bikes, and it's really quite impressive how the early riders raced and took long trips over not-well-paved roads. The de...more

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Jan 17, 2012 Leif rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: exploration

This book had so much promise, and yet it turned out to be so ... boring ? I'm still reeling at how this could have happened. You have a story about a guy -- no, three guys ! -- who decide to ride their bicycles around the world. In the 1890s. With portable cameras ! Through the Gobi Desert !! As if that wasn't enough, there's also murder, international intrigue and a rescue mission !

And yet, somehow the resulting book is pretty dry. I was wondering to myself throughout the story how it could ha...more

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Jul 19, 2012 Dan Webber rated it 2 of 5 stars

Although this book has some great historical information, the writing is a little stiff. It reads like 3 magazine articles, the last one being primarily redundant.That having been said, this was the heyday of cycling, with highwheel racing transitioning into traditional "safety bike" world tours. Imagine crossing China in 1893 on a 45lb single speed with your handlebar full of silver coins and a revolver in your pack. Never again will that level of adventure be possible.

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Oct 13, 2010 Carol Ann rated it 2 of 5 stars

Mid way through I realized I was not enjoying the story. It is non-fiction and since Pittsburgh played a role in it I gave it a chance. Some daring young men (we have them in each generation) decide the bicycle is the way to go (go as around the world). Frank Lenz takes off solo through unknown areas - hello- can you point me to Turkey? A tip of the hat to the author who did extensive research to bring this man to life! Ha Ha

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May 09, 2012 Suzanne Freeman rated it 4 of 5 stars

I greatly enjoyed this book, especially since I was reading it as I trained for my own bike challenge. My accomplishment was a mere 27 miles. Frank Lunz rode one of the first bicycles with pnuematic tires across China and Japan and into Turkey, where he was murdered for his belongings. The book is well written and flows like a novel. It is an insightful look into the history of bicycling and turn of the century America -- the turn we were not alive to see that is. I found this book by kizmet whi...more

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Jul 14, 2012 Elizabeth rated it 4 of 5 stars

Intertwined in the story of Frank Lenz's bid to be the first to cycle around the world solo is a brief history of the evolution of the bicycle and the story of William Sachtleben & Thomas Allen's successful trip. Seems to accurately portray life, both US and abroad, just prior to the turn of the 20th century. One has to admire the determination these young men had to take on such a feat. Entertaining read.

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Jun 12, 2011 Ryan Mishap rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: biography, history

A solid, if stolid, account of a young man looking to circle the globe on one of those new contraptions, the safety bicycle. This starts slow, switches to different explorers altogether, then finds an interesting narrative stretch and coasts downhill to Lenz's disappearance. After this point, the forward motion of the narrative hits a brick wall as the man who goes to Turkey to find out what happened is thwarted for month after month.

After month.

And we are given the details.

Unexciting and occasi...more

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Mar 14, 2011 Kitty rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: nonfiction, travel

Bicycling in the late 1800's bore only a passing resemblance to cycling today. Rough, muddy roads, heavy frames and solid tires made for a different experience. Yet that didn't stop "wheelmen" from attempting long distance, even around the world adventures. One such wheelman set off on his safety bike but disappeared in Turkey. This book describes his journey, as well as an attempt to find him. At times the narrative bogged down but the period photos were fascinating.

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Jul 30, 2011 Cynthia Frazer added it

The topic fascinates me (circling the globe by bicycle), but the writing is clunky, particularly the first 100 pages. If you can get through that, it is a fascinating history, not just of cycling, but of regional issues in the middle east. My favorite part? The photo of Lenz in front of Iolani Palace, 1892, right before the overthrow of the monarchy.

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