18 Miles Per Hour

18 MilesPerHour is about riding through the world instead of just passing it by.
NANCY NEIMAN: YOUR NORMAL, EVERYDAY, PIONEERING CHAMPION. Looks like a normal, everyday woman out for a ride, eh? Well, she was a fairly normal person who happened to be the U.S. Girl’s National Cycling Champion in 1953.  When she won it again in 1954 she pointed out that neither she, nor the other entrants, were girls, and it should be changed to “Women’s.” They agreed. This woman then took it again in 1956. And 1957. She also scrimped and saved so she could go overseas and race for a spell in 1954. She returned in 1956 and – using a borrowed jersey – was the sole American entrant in the stage race that was the women’s equivalent of Le Tour. She took 14th. That makes her the first American of either sex to do a stage race in Europe. Average, everyday woman? Hardly.   (thanks to Archival Clothing and Flickr contact Paris-Roubaix)

NANCY NEIMAN: YOUR NORMAL, EVERYDAY, PIONEERING CHAMPION.

Looks like a normal, everyday woman out for a ride, eh? Well, she was a fairly normal person who happened to be the U.S. Girl’s National Cycling Champion in 1953. 

When she won it again in 1954 she pointed out that neither she, nor the other entrants, were girls, and it should be changed to “Women’s.”

They agreed.

This woman then took it again in 1956.

And 1957.

She also scrimped and saved so she could go overseas and race for a spell in 1954. She returned in 1956 and – using a borrowed jersey – was the sole American entrant in the stage race that was the women’s equivalent of Le Tour. She took 14th.

That makes her the first American of either sex to do a stage race in Europe.

Average, everyday woman? Hardly.  

(thanks to Archival Clothing and Flickr contact Paris-Roubaix)


  1. cunningrunts reblogged this from 18milesperhour
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  4. jordanpattern reblogged this from womenscycling and added:
    was feeling unmotivated to go out and ride in this wind and chill…
  5. sassputin reblogged this from womenscycling
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  7. womenscycling reblogged this from 18milesperhour and added:
    I LOVE the stories about champions from the past! Thanks so much!
  8. thecuriousman reblogged this from 18milesperhour and added:
    guy I’m into strong women like this.
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  10. windingify reblogged this from 18milesperhour and added:
    Der er kvinder…. Og så er der kvinder!
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  13. 18milesperhour posted this