The Wasp — 1895 — page 911: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page features two satirical illustrations depicting bicycles in London society circa 1895. The left image, captioned "My Lord's Favorite Pastime in 1895," shows aristocrats on horseback encountering cyclists, suggesting class tension as bicycles democratized transportation. The right illustration, "As He Enjoys Himself in 1895," depicts a gentleman cyclist, implying the bicycle's growing popularity across social classes. The satire mocks how the bicycle craze was disrupting traditional social hierarchies—previously, horseback riding signified upper-class status. Now ordinary people could afford bicycles, undermining class distinctions. The humor lies in portraying the bicycle as a transformative social force that challenged Victorian class structures and gender norms (women increasingly rode bicycles for independence).