by Steven Streight

Bicycle Fever traces a history few know: the prominence of Peoria (IL) in the development of the bicycle. “In the 1890s, Peoria was one of four major cities in the world for bicycle races,” Steven Streight, author, said. “If you were a hot superstar in bicycle races, you had to prove it in Peoria. If you didn’t race in Peoria and win, you were just a braggart.”

The book came about in 1990 when Streight was working for Ruppman Marketing Services, whose CEO, Charles Ruppman, was an aficionado of the Proctor Cycling Classic.