The Lost Cyclist

The Lost Cyclist chronicles Frank Lenz's 1892 attempt to circumnavigate the globe by bicycle - a journey that would take him 20,000 miles across three continents. A Pittsburgh accountant and amateur photographer, Lenz aimed to be the first person to complete this feat on the newly invented "safety bicycle." The narrative follows Lenz's progress through Japan, China, and Burma as he documented his experiences with photographs and letters home. When Lenz disappeared in Turkey in 1894, fellow cyclist William Sachtleben embarked on a search mission to uncover what happened. Through extensive archival research, David Herlihy reconstructs both Lenz's original journey and Sachtleben's subsequent investigation. The book draws from period newspapers, letters, diplomatic cables, and eyewitness accounts to piece together these parallel quests. This dual biography illuminates the dawn of international bicycle touring and captures a pivotal moment when new technologies enabled ordinary people to attempt extraordinary feats of exploration. The book examines themes of ambition, mystery, and the complex political tensions of the late Ottoman Empire.

Readers describe the book as thoroughly researched but unevenly paced. The level of historical detail helps paint a vivid picture of cycling culture in the 1890s, with many reviewers noting they learned previously unknown facts about early bicycle adventurers. Liked: - Rich historical context and period details - Insights into 19th century international travel - Strong portrayal of Frank Lenz's personality - Quality of archival photographs Disliked: - Slow middle section with excessive tangents - Abrupt ending that leaves questions unanswered - Too much focus on William Sachtleben vs. Frank Lenz - Dense prose that can be hard to follow Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (500+ ratings) Amazon: 4/5 (80+ reviews) Several readers mentioned abandoning the book partway through due to pacing issues. As one Amazon reviewer noted: "Great research and fascinating subject matter, but the narrative gets bogged down in details that distract from the main story."

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🚲 Frank Lenz, the cyclist featured in the book, was one of the first photographers to document a round-the-world bicycle journey, carrying a groundbreaking Kodak camera and capturing images of remote locations few Westerners had seen. 🌏 When Lenz disappeared in eastern Turkey in 1894, fellow cyclist William Sachtleben embarked on what is considered one of history's first international missing persons investigations. 📚 Author David Herlihy is also known for his acclaimed book "Bicycle: The History," which won the 2004 Award for Excellence in the History of Science from the Professional and Scholarly Publishing Division. 🗞️ Frank Lenz's journey was sponsored by Outing magazine, which paid him to document his travels through articles and photographs, making him one of the first sponsored adventure cyclists. 🔍 The book draws heavily from Lenz's own letters and articles, as well as previously undiscovered documents from Turkish military archives that shed light on his disappearance.