ABSTRACT
This chapter surveys the key developments in the British bicycle industry between 1918 and 1939, and begins by exploring the problems encountered by firms during the inflationary boom between 1918 and 1920. The boom was followed by a severe depression from the middle of 1920, and the industry had to meet the challenges of the depressed economic climate of the 1920s. The years leading up to the Second World War may be described as a 'golden age' for cycling, and by 1936 it was estimated that there were 10 million cycles in use in the UK, and there was a rising demand overseas, especially in colonial markets. In summary, the bicycle industry overall emerges from the inter-war years with some merit. Product and process innovations were accompanied by aggressive marketing in both domestic and colonial markets, and the industry clearly beat off continental challengers.
