Conference

Founded in 1955 as Southern Veteran-Cycle Club

Riding - Researching - Conserving

19th International Cycling History Conference

This prestigious event will take place from the 25th - 28th June 2008 at:
The Museum of Art and Industry houses France's biggest collection of cycles with more than 350 machines, among which some very rare, even unique exhibits can be seen. This collection shows a complete and reasoned offer of the entire evolution of the bicycle from its beginnings to today.

The conference will be organised around the themes that are addressed each year: inventors, manufacturers, industry, competition, bicycle touring, uses etc.

In 2008 we would also like to add two new themes:

	the international distribution of the velocipede (1860-1870), in connection with the exhibition to be presented at the Musee d'Art et d'Industrie
	the bicycle, a tool in sustainable development throughout history.

Those people wishing to present a paper are invited to identify themselves before 15th April 2008. Each contributor is asked to provide the organisers with the title of their paper, as well as a summary of around 300 words in English so that they can draw up the programme for each day. Don't forget to specify your name and your post and e-mail address.

Presentation of each paper will take 20 minutes. The official language will be English as it is every year. Simultaneous French/English translation will be offered to French-speaking participants.

Proposals for contributions must be sent to the following address:

By e-mail conferencecycle@saint-etienne.fr

Cycling History Conference website: www.cycling-history.org

Provisional Programme:

25th June
11.00am	Participant Welcome. Possibility of visiting both the permanent cycle exhibition and the temporary velocipedes exhibition at the Museum of Art et Industry
3.00pm	Opening ceremony and presentation of the programme for each day
4.30pm	Discover walk around Saint-Etienne
6pm	Reception at the Museum of Art et Industry
26th June
9am - 10.30am	Papers
10.30am - 11.am	Break
11 am - 12.30am	Papers
12.30pm - 1.30pm	Meal
1.30pm - 3.00pm	Papers
3pm - 3.30pm	Break
3.30pm - 5 pm	Papers
5pm - 7pm	Tour of the reserves at the Musee d'Art et d'Industrie
27th June
9am - 10.30am	Papers
10.30am - 11.am	Break
11 am - 12.30am	Papers
12.30pm - 1.30pm	Meal
1.30pm - 3.00pm	Papers
3pm - 3.30pm	Break
3.30pm - 5 pm	Papers
5pm - 7pm	Visit to the permanent and temporary cycle exhibition at the Museum of Art and Industry
7 pm - 11 pm	Festive evening
28th June
9am - 10.30am	Papers
10.30am - 11.am	Break
11 am - 12.30am	Papers
12.30pm - 1.30pm	Meal
1.30pm - 3.00pm	Papers
3pm - 3.30pm	Closing Session

The Museum also maintains a considerable stock of documents including some unique items. Complete series of old magazines, manufacturer's catalogues, race programmes, corporate archives, together with almost 1500 old and current books and papers. The archives of the Chambre Syndicale du Cycle (Cycle Manufacturers Union) and the French Federation of Cycle Tourism are also conserved here. An extensive photo collection completes the base.

These documents, accessible on request, integrate the museum into national and international networks of researchers and hobbyists who study the history of the bicycle and its practice.

On the 29th June the French Federation of Cycle Touring will organise a cycle tour around Saint-Etienne; bicycles will be available for loan to participants.

This site is sponsored and maintained by Harwood Cycles