What does the term scorcher mean

[New Mexico Brant]

 

[New Mexico Brant]

The term first shows up in the early 1890's, for me it refers to mostly young men, boys, and some ladies "hot rodding" their bicycles to make them faster (stripping off brakes, heavy saddles, guards, heavy pedals). Packs would have informal street races around towns and cities. Bicycle manufacturers picked up on the trend and offered specific light weight models with "fast" styling with non-frivolous builds. George Hendee was selling the Centaur built "King of Scorchers" in 1893, and possibly before. Heaps of sheet music was written about "scorchers." It was a pop-phenomena of the time!

I love this quote from Jaap HarsKamp's article below:

One adversary sent a letter to The Times of London (1892), in which he described a group of scorchers descending a hill “like a horde of Apaches or Sioux Indians, conches shrieking and bells going; and woe betide the luckless man or aught else coming in their way.”

This Haarkamp's article that best describes the 1890's origin:

Cycling History: Manhattan Scorchers & Louis Chevrolet - New York Almanack

The rage for cycling had its opponents too. In Britain, the "outrage" of uncontrolled bikers was widely discussed in the press. Critics hated the presence of

www.newyorkalmanack.com

 

[jjffpptt]

Dr. Neesen's book on wheeling​

 

[bobcycles]

variety of definitions....

you get burned by a scammer? ..... "Bro! You done got "scorched"!!!"

 

[Nashman]

The term first shows up in the early 1890's, for me it refers to mostly young men, boys, and some ladies "hot rodding" their bicycles to make them faster (stripping off brakes, heavy saddles, guards, heavy pedals). Packs would have informal street races around towns and cities. Bicycle manufacturers picked up on the trend and offered specific light weight models with "fast" styling with non-frivolous builds. George Hendee was selling the Centaur built "King of Scorchers" in 1893, and possibly before. Heaps of sheet music was written about "scorchers." It was a pop-phenomena of the time!

I love this quote from Jaap HarsKamp's article below:

One adversary sent a letter to The Times of London (1892), in which he described a group of scorchers descending a hill “like a horde of Apaches or Sioux Indians, conches shrieking and bells going; and woe betide the luckless man or aught else coming in their way.”

This Haarkamp's article that best describes the 1890's origin:

Cycling History: Manhattan Scorchers & Louis Chevrolet - New York Almanack

The rage for cycling had its opponents too. In Britain, the "outrage" of uncontrolled bikers was widely discussed in the press. Critics hated the presence of

www.newyorkalmanack.com

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I bet the female "Scorchers" had other skills and amusement prospects with her scarlet face, awry hat, disheveled hair, etc. Could be a fun date?

 

[Tom Carroll]

I paid for a scorcher one time in Mexico….Not what I was hoping for

 

[sworley]

More recently the Ibis Scorcher of the early 1990s: https://www.ibiscycles.com/our-story/history/11-the-scorcher-will-teach-you

 

[Dra]

I’m thinking that word was just reinvented in Portland Oregon by the sidewalk commandos

 

[jjffpptt]

Hello from Germany would someone explain to me in a few words what a scorcher bike is. My dictionaries don't know the term. It's probably a slang term. Is this a true racer ( the weight of the about 1896 Keating bike is 19lbs). Or is it Someting like a modern fixie. Or is it a poser bike. Keating advertised it as the lightest Scorcher in the world.
Thanks for your support

hey stumbled across this related to 1895 Keating, thought you might find it interesting

 

[jjffpptt]

jan 1899