National Cycle Museum
Last updated: 21 May 2010
During recent years Llandrindod Wells has become the home of the National Cycle Museum and a mecca for cyclists. Here the museum's curator, David Higman MBE, tells us more about the visitor attraction.
"The Museum opened at the Automobile Palace in the centre of the town over 10 years ago and from its early development has grown into one of the principal collections of Europe.
Visitors will find around 250 bicycles on the exhibition floor at any one time, thus giving both the visitor and cycling enthusiast a wonderful display ranging from the early Hobby Horse of 1818 through to the carbon bicycle of today.
We have many bicycles ridden by famous racing stars including Chris Boardman's 1992 Olympic test machine.
The collection is arranged around artefacts of the period so that one can imagine walking back through time - and this is a memorable experience for many.
One can see the lighting units that mother and father used and the sort of machine they rode.
How often do we hear the comments "how did they ride that?". Dressed mannequins stand by machines dressed in the costume of the day.
The collection is open daily from March to the end of October.
The National Cycle Museum, Llandrindod Wells launched an on line library on its website in May 2010.
The new library comprises several thousand scanned documents relating to cycles and cycling memorabilia. Take a look at the website, which can be linked to on the right hand side of this page. It's bound to bring back cycling memories!
Article by David Higman.
your comments
John Gamblin, Cardiff
It is appalling that the National Cycle Collection has been fighting for four years for two signs on the A483 and A44 without success. It is nonsensical that the Welsh Assembly Government's Trunk Road Agency allow signs for McDonalds fast food outlets and not for relevant and interesting tourist attractions such as this. Lets hope there's someone sensible in the WAG who can do something about this before the 2010 holiday season!
Fri Nov 13 09:45:22 2009
Peter Brake Pembroke
A first class collection of bikes. really worth a visit.
Tue Aug 4 09:49:01 2009
stan cotter from liverpool
a wonderful collection of cycle and cycle related memorobilia it gave a real insight into the past and raked up a lot of old memories enjoyed it immmensley and i am ever in those parts again will look forward to a return visit
Thu Jul 9 15:31:25 2009
Frank Brown Llandrindod Wells
Culture Minister David Lammy has signaled the government’s intention to continue its policy of free entry to our national museums. I was wondering why the public have to pay to see the national cycle collection, if its the national collection why should we pay to see it?
Wed Mar 19 09:02:43 2008
Pauline. M. from Llandrindod
Thank you 3 for your time and patience to show me for the visit to the Exhibit and meeting you, our Chairman. It's always a pleasure to come. Great work, well done!
Tue Mar 4 11:02:21 2008
Freda Davies, Llandrindod Wells
It is well worth a stop at Llandrindod Wells to visit the national cycle collection located in the town.
Fri Feb 1 15:40:44 2008
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