Expo "The Legendary Favorit" - NTM Praha, Czech Republic 
Text: author of the exposition Dr Jan Králik
The bicycle is a perfectly designed piece of sports equipment, means of transport and leisure activity. We have Karl Drais to thank for it; his two-wheeled “draisienne” was first unveiled on the 12th of June 1817. The history of the bicycle starts here, and from that point on, its designs have been as diverse as its principle is simple.
At first it was seen as a fun leisure activity, but it soon began to be used as a mode of transport, which then led, almost naturally, to racing. The first recorded velocipede race, on bikes with cranks and pedals on the shaft of the front wooden wheel (with spokes), took place in France on the 8th of December 1867. The winner completed the 17–kilometre course from Paris to Versailles in one hour. The first race to be held in the Czech lands took place in Kutná Hora on the 8th of August 1869. A race was held in Brno one week later.
Subsequent chapters in Czech cycling history were written by famous (and long forgotten) manufacturers, riders, trainers, managers, businessmen, mechanics, functionaries and journalists. The Favorit factory in Rokycany played a particularly exceptional role. Its roots, development, humble beginnings, growth, mishaps and decline is a fascinating story, but about which there are relatively few documents or written reports. Former factory employees and racing cyclists are the main source of information, and although their memories may be clouded by time, their recollections reveal their love of the Favorit brand. Favorit was one very few companies to receive credit for both its quality and (non)availability during the era of blatant socialist experimentation.
Following the wild privatization after the fall of communism and dissolution of the company, it seemed that Favorit was condemned to slow oblivion. Only collectors breathed life into the old discarded bikes and admired the old metal frames.
But never say never. The brand has been restarted, and the manufacture of Favorit bicycles in Rokycany has come to life again.
The legend is back.
album: The Legendary Favorit
Musée Moto Vélo, Domazan – France
This highly specialized museum concentrating on the beginnings of development of bicycles is located in a family castle Château de Bosc . All machines in the collection are very rare examples, many of them are not possible to show on next places because they exists only in one example. Just these bicycles made this museum as one of the best bicycle museum around the World.
Contact: http://www.chateau-de-bosc.com
Last visites in 2017 a 2018 and some new examples:
album: 08/F. Moto velo musée, Domazan – France
New face of museum after exchange some bikes from spring 2015 :
album: 08/E. Moto velo musée, Domazan – France
London Motorcycle Museum - London, England 
A privat motorcycle museum. Part of museum is collection ex-motorcycle dealer Bill Crosby.
Contact: http://www.london-motorcycle-museum.org
Expo "200 Jahre Radfahren" 2018, Munchen - Germany
Summer exposition!!!
Contact: https://www.deutsches-museum.de
„BICYCLES! A Love Story“ The Exhibition 2018, Wienna – Austria
More than an exhibition.... An exccelent venue, a fun, a party, meetings, presentations...this all were framed very xtravagant exposition arrangement of bikes. Very good idea!
Contact: https://www.bicycles-exhibition.com
album: 230 - BICYCLES! A Love Story
Seasonal exhibition– Mnichovo Hradiště, Czech Republic
A nice exhibition with many bicycles from Standa Hnizdil‘s collection and memebers of local clubs and three bicycles from museum of town Mnichovo Hradiště. This exhibition was opened through summer 2018.
Contact: http://muzeum.mnhradiste.cz
Bicycle Raillway, Smithville – NJ, USA
In 1891, four years after H.B.Smith´s death, Arthur E. Hotchins approached Smith Company officials to discuss plans for the production of his latest invention, an elevated bicycle railroad. A finished prototype served as a test model for bicycle railroads throughout the United States.
The Smith Company agreed to invest in this invention. The company´s mechanics completed the prototypes of the bicycle-like conveyance by the end of 1891 and tested these pedal-powered vehicles on a 200-foot section of track erected at the factory.
Smithville presented an ideal setting to demonstrate the railway. The most direct route between Mt. Holly and Smithvile lay along the creek´s level floodplain, making it possible to built the bicycle railroad on undevelopment land.
During good bussines times, the H.B. Smith Machine Company employed men from Mt. Holly. They walked the two miles to Smithville or took the train, but the station location was not convenient to most of the workers´ houses. This made the construction of the bicycle railway between the towns a practical proposal.
album: 228/A - Smithville museum
The pictures were showed for 27th International Cycling History Conference, Nort Haven, USA, 2016.
album: 228/B - Bicycle Raillway
Henry Ford Museum, Dearborn, MI – USA
The Pompous Museum, unfortunately, when we visited it in 2018, only two bikes are exposed to the public, although a large and valuable collection is hidden in the depository.
Contact: http://www.thehenryford.org/museum/index.aspx
Henry Ford said of his museum: “I am collecting the history of our people as written into things their hands made and used.... When we are through, we shall have reproduced American life as lived, and that, I think, is the best way of preserving at least a part of our history and tradition.”
Photos of bicycle display from 2005 (taken by Mr. Zdeněk Měsíček)
Kelham Island Museum, Shiffield - England
This high wheel was made in Sheffielf – England for the Paris Wold´s Fair, 1878. It has silver plated fittings and it is rumoured that it was made for the Tsar of Russia.
In the photograph, Frank Roper is shown holding the bicycle in 1935. Mr. Roper had a blok of eight shops all selling cycles and later motorcycle parts on London Road, Sheffield.
The bicycle was later acquired by Mr. Barrett in the 1960s, by then it was in a very poor condition and required the restoration of missing and corroded parts.
Photo: Jiři Mewald
Contact: http://www.simt.co.uk/kelham-island-museum
album: 227/B Kelham Island Museum
Pierce - Arrow Museum, Buffalo, NY – USA
The Buffalo Transportation Pierce Arrow Museum and a new exhibit on Buffalo's Bicycles (1860s - 1920s).
The collection of vintage bicycles and rare cycling memorabilia from the collections of Jim and Mary Ann Sandoro, the Burgwardt Family and the former Pedaling History Museum.
Contact: http://www.pierce-arrow.com
THE BUFFALO TRANSPORTATION PIERCE-ARROW MUSEUM HONORS AND PRESERVES THE COMPANY’S LONG AND PRESTIGIOUS HISTORY.
The Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Company was a symbol of one of Buffalo’s most significant eras of growth, prosperity and of American innovation and ingenuity.
