You probably wouldn't expect to find one of the world's largest private collections of historical bicycles in a small village in western Ohio. It feels like it should be in D.C. or maybe Chicago. But no. The Bicycle Museum of America Ohio is tucked away in New Bremen, a town of about 3,000 people. If you aren’t looking for it, you’ll miss it. That would be a mistake. Honestly, even if you aren't a "bike person," the sheer engineering evolution on display here is kind of staggering. It isn't just a room full of old Schwinns. It is a three-floor timeline of how humans figured out how to balance on two wheels without dying.
The museum exists because of the late Jim Dicke II. He was the chairman of Crown Equipment Corporation, which is headquartered right there in New Bremen. He bought the collection from the family of the late collector Roland "Mac" MacLean in 1997. It started in Chicago and ended up in a renovated hotel and storefront in Ohio. It’s a passion project that turned into a legitimate global landmark for cycling history.
What Most People Get Wrong About Early Bikes
Walking into the first floor, you’re immediately hit by the "Boneshakers." That isn't just a nickname; it's a warning. These things, officially called Velocipedes, had wooden wheels and iron tires. Imagine riding that over a cobblestone street in 1868. Your teeth would literally rattle. People think early bikes were just toys for the rich, but they were actually the first real step toward personal mechanical transport.
Then you see the High Wheelers. You know the ones—the Penny Farthings with the giant front wheel and the tiny back one.
Why was the wheel so big?
Simple physics, really. Before gears existed, the only way to go faster was to make the drive wheel larger. One rotation of the pedals equaled one rotation of the wheel. If you wanted to cover more ground, you needed a bigger circle. The problem, obviously, was the center of gravity. If you hit a pebble, you’d go over the handlebars. They called it "taking a header." It was dangerous. It was messy. And yet, people loved them because they were faster than walking and cheaper than a horse.
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The Bicycle Museum of America Ohio and the Transition to Safety
By the late 1880s, the "Safety Bicycle" changed everything. This is essentially the blueprint for what we ride today. Equal-sized wheels. A chain drive. A frame you could actually step over without a ladder. The museum does a great job of showing this pivot point. Suddenly, women were riding. The Bloomer costume became a thing because you couldn't ride a Safety Bicycle in a Victorian hoop skirt. Susan B. Anthony famously said that the bicycle "has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world."
You can feel that history when you’re standing in front of these machines. They aren't just rusted metal. They are tools of social revolution.
Rarities You Can't Find Anywhere Else
Most visitors gravitate toward the weird stuff. The museum has a 10-man tandem bike. It’s huge. It looks like a yellow logic puzzle on wheels. It was built as a publicity stunt by the Orient Bicycle Company around the turn of the century. Keeping ten people in sync on one chain is a nightmare of coordination, but it served its purpose: it got people talking.
Then there’s the 1892 Victor. It’s significant because it used a "cushion tire"—a hollow rubber tube that was a precursor to the pneumatic tires we use now. It was an attempt to fix the "Boneshaker" problem without the constant threat of punctures that plagued early air-filled tires. The museum also houses a massive collection of "Star" bicycles. These flipped the script by putting the small wheel in the front to prevent those nasty headers. It didn't stick, but seeing the failed experiments is honestly more interesting than seeing the successes.
The Pop Culture and Boomer Nostalgia Floor
If the first floor is about Victorian grit, the upper levels are a trip down memory lane for anyone who grew up between 1950 and 1980. We’re talking about the Schwinn Sting-Ray. The Krates. The Apple Krate, the Pea Picker, the Orange Krate. These bikes define an era of American suburban childhood. They’ve got the banana seats, the sissy bars, and the five-speed "stick shifts" on the frame that were eventually banned because they were, well, incredibly dangerous during a crash.
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The museum’s collection of balloon tire bikes from the 1930s and 40s is also top-tier. These were heavy. They had built-in headlights, tanks that looked like motorcycles, and enough chrome to blind a pilot. They represent a time when bicycles weren't just transport; they were a status symbol for kids. You’ll see Elgins, Huffys (which were actually made nearby in Dayton), and Shelbys.
Modern Marvels and Oddities
It isn't all antique. There’s a solid section dedicated to modern racing and specialty builds.
- Custom builds for movies (including a certain red bike from Pee-wee’s Big Adventure).
- Olympic racing bikes made of carbon fiber that weigh less than a gallon of milk.
- Military bicycles used by paratroopers in WWII that folded in half.
- The "Ice Bike" with blades instead of wheels.
It’s a weird mix. One minute you’re looking at a bike made of wood, and the next you’re looking at a prototype that looks like it belongs in a sci-fi movie. The diversity of the collection—over 1,000 bicycles in total, though only about 300 are on display at any given time—is why people fly from Europe and Japan just to visit this random corner of Ohio.
Dealing With the "Why Here?" Question
New Bremen is a beautiful town, but it's isolated. You’re about an hour north of Dayton and two hours from Columbus or Cincinnati. People often wonder why the Bicycle Museum of America Ohio hasn't moved to a bigger city.
The reality is that the museum is deeply tied to the local community and the Dicke family. It’s part of a broader effort to preserve the history of the region. There is a sense of pride in having a world-class institution in a place where you can still see cornfields from the museum's front door. It keeps the experience humble. You won't find $30 parking garages or massive crowds here. You just walk in, pay a very modest admission fee (usually around $3 for adults), and wander through three floors of history at your own pace.
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Planning the Trip: What You Actually Need to Know
If you're going to make the trek to New Bremen, don't just dash in and out. The museum is located at 7 West Monroe Street.
First, check the hours. They are generally open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM during the summer months. Winter hours can be a bit more restrictive, so call ahead if you’re traveling a long distance.
Parking is easy. There’s street parking right in front of the building.
For food, you’ve got to hit up Lock 16 Pizzeria or the 17 West Brewpub. Both are within walking distance and are staples of the local scene. The museum itself is right next to a restored section of the Miami-Erie Canal (Lock 1 North), which provides a nice backdrop for a post-museum walk.
Takeaways for Your Visit
- Look at the Badges: Each vintage bike has a "head badge" on the front. These are works of art. Some are enameled, some are brass, and they represent thousands of defunct companies that used to build bikes in the US.
- Ask the Staff: The people working there are usually enthusiasts. They know the stories behind the specific bikes—like which one was found in a barn in France and which one was ridden across the country by a 70-year-old man.
- Bring a Camera: Most museums are picky about photos, but they are generally cool with it here as long as you aren't using a tripod and blocking the aisles.
- Check the Gift Shop: They have a surprising amount of niche cycling books and vintage-style posters that you won't find on Amazon.
The Bicycle Museum of America Ohio isn't just a collection of objects; it’s a record of human ingenuity. We took a simple idea—a wheel—and spent 200 years obsessively refining it. Seeing that evolution laid out in front of you makes you realize how much we take for granted when we hop on a modern mountain bike today.
Next Steps for Your Visit
To get the most out of your trip, start by browsing the museum's online gallery to identify which specific era interests you most—whether it's the 19th-century pioneers or the mid-century balloon tire classics. Once you arrive, begin your tour on the third floor and work your way down; this allows you to follow the chronological timeline from the earliest "Running Machines" to the high-tech racers of today. If you're traveling with a group, call at least two weeks in advance to see if a guided tour is available, as the anecdotal history provided by the curators adds a layer of depth that placards simply can't capture. Finally, make sure to bring a portable power bank for your phone, as you’ll likely take more photos of the intricate metalwork and vintage advertisements than you anticipate.