The Strange History of “Bicycle Face”: The 1890s Medical Myth That Tried to Stop Women from Cycling

“Bicycle Face” was a strange medical myth from the 1890s. Some doctors and newspapers claimed that women who rode bicycles could permanently damage their facial expressions — developing a clenched jaw, bulging eyes, and a strained look. Today, historians recognize bicycle face as one of the most absurd examples of how “science” was used to discourage women’s independence during the cycling boom of the late 19th century. What Was Bicycle Face? (Clear Historical Definition) During the 1890s safety bicycle revolution, more women began riding independently. In response, certain physicians warned of a supposed condition called bicycle face. According to historical newspaper commentary of the time, excessive cycling could supposedly distort a woman’s natural beauty. Category What the 1890s Myth Claimed…