Flashback
E.C. Stearns & Company produced the Yellow Fellow bike models in the late 1800s.
SPIN CITY Syracuse was once a major player in the bike industry
BY CHRIS MELFI
For someone just getting acquainted with Syracuse history, it
E.C. Stearns & Company pitted their lightweight Yellow Fellow
can be difficult to keep track of what the city has been known for.
bike against an Empire State Express train, the holder of the land
First, Syracuse was “The Salt City” and later it claimed the mon-
speed record, in 1896. Experienced riders on a sextuplet Yellow
iker “Typewriter City.” But in between those tales of two cities,
Fellow pulled up next to the train in Solvay, reaching speeds of 45
Syracuse was a major player in the bicycle industry. Over a doz-
mph and edging the train out by a few lengths after the half mile
en manufacturers and many racers called Syracuse home, which
race. An impressive feat, to be sure, but it is doubtful the Yellow
first saw designated bike lanes in 1897. In recent years, Syracuse
Fellow could have kept up with the Empire State Express train’s
has been striving to rediscover its bike culture by implement-
record of 112.5 miles per hour.
the brakes in the summer of 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions.
With a strong connection to cycling history, it is clear to see why Syracuse is keen on bringing biking infrastructure into the 21st
In the late 19th century, the bicycle industry was booming, with
century. Syracuse’s Bike Plan cites economic, health, equity and
more than 300 major players in the market. Some bikes sold for
safety advantages as major reasons to revitalize bike culture. Be-
more than $100. Along with the nearly 20 bicycle manufacturers
sides being a way to connect neighborhoods and a means of exer-
in Syracuse around that time, there were maintenance shops and
cise, bike lanes allow for the urban exploration of Syracuse, a city
other businesses that catered to the industry. Among the most no-
teeming with natural beauty within and without the city center.
table innovators were E.C. Stearns & Company, who produced the
With over 9.5 miles of bike lanes, a blossoming downtown, and rich,
Yellow Fellow models, and Alexander Brown, who, besides invent-
relevant history, Syracuse is poised to re-enter the cycling world.
ing the Smith Premier Typewriter, also invented the pneumatic
Chris Melfi is support services coordinator at Onondaga Historical Association.
tube and two-speed gear for bicycles.
M AY/J U N E
PHOTO COURTESY OHA
ing its Bike Plan and bringing in a ride-share program, which hit
CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE
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