Gallery: Almost 200 years of cycling at Musee du Velo

The Musée du Vélo was originally located in Cormatin, France, from 1997 to 2007. It had to close its doors for finacial reasons, but re-opened in Tournus, France, in 2009 where it is located today. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com

This bicycle may have been used to attempt a speed record at one time by the looks of the huge chainring. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com

A child's tandem bicycle, complete with pink saddles. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com

Drop bars in front, mustache bars in back, this triplet bicycle dates back to 1938. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com

Pennyfarthings big and small. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com

Shown here is the braking system from an 1869 bicycle. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com

This 1950 bicycle could be driven by pedaling, and also by pumping the handlebars from side to side. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com

Cigars and matchboxes of cycling greats. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com

A miniature, lead figurine peloton. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com

Note the very interesting gearing on this Levocyclette "Terrot." Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com

This early front-mounted child seat was equiped with armrests, footrests, and a seatbelt. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com

The founder of Musée du Vélo, Michel Grezaud, collected bicycle and cycling-related items for 40 years. He was a butcher in the 1950s, and used this old milkman delivery tricycle to deliver his meats to his customers. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com

The Swiss Military bicycle was in production for 90 years, from 1905 to 1995. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com

A front suspension bicycle from 1935. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com

An all-plastic bicycle, with the exception of a few parts, was built by Itera in 1970. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com

This 1935 aluminium-lugged bicycle has octagonal tubing. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com

"On your left!" A beautiful collection of bicycle bells. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com

The museum has an extensive collection of vintage headtube badges. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com

In 1935, Belgian Romain Maes won the 29th edition of the Tour de France, his only Tour title. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com

In 1937, the derailleur made its debut at the Tour de France. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com

A downtube shifter on a 1937 Tour de France bicycle. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com

Lefty! No, righty! This wild bicycle has a "lefty" fork and "righty" stays. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com

Handmade needle work scenes of European cycling. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com

It is hard to tell the scale from the photo, but this Peugeot wooden bicycle is sized for a child. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com

In 1817, the German Baron Karl Von Drais invented the "dandy-horse." This 1820 version was used by Von Drais to cover 14.4km in one hour. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com

There was even a three-level saddle height adjustment on the "dandy-horse" from 1820. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com

A collection of velo inspired china. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com