Big frame

Bicycle messenger, 1914 (Library of Congress photo)

This guy delivered telegrams for Western Union in Birmingham, Ala., in 1914. At least his cap says "Western Union."

But where did he put the telegrams to be delivered? There's no bag or pouch in sight.

His bike looks heavy and hard to pedal. The steel frame is huge: I bet it wasn't easy to swing that left leg over the seat. And look at the gearing: big front chainwheel and small fixed cog in the back.

While the road looks flat, remember that Birmingham has some steep hills he probably had to climb. How he stopped, once he got started, isn't clear. There's probably a coaster brake in that rear hub.