J.K. Starnley's Rover Safety Bicycle, essentially the pattern for most modern bicycles, quickly took over from the 'Ordinary' or 'Penny Farthing' towards the end of the nineteeth century. The improved safety and comfort of the new design led to a rapid increase in the popularity of recreational cycling and the proliferation of cycling clubs, such as the Leith Licensed Victuallers Cycling Club featured in the exhibition.
Cycling's popularity with children is also reflected, from Victorian tricycles through to the Chopper and BMX crazes of the 1970s and 1980s.
In more recent times, cycling as a sport has boomed, fuelled in part by Edinburgh's hosting of the 1970 and 1986 Commonwealth Games as well as the success of Sir Chris Hoy in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.
You can also see Edinburgh's bygone bike retail and repair shops and find out how bikes were used by the the emergency services in days gone by.
The image library for the collections of Edinburgh Libraries and Museums and Galleries