Virginia Governor's Mansion

Cycling is thought to have arrived in Richmond around 1876. Mr. Tom Sydnor is thought to be the first person to ride his ordinary cycle on the city streets, terrifying citizens, horses and dogs alike. Where Sydnor led, others soon followed, as illustrated in this photograph of several cyclists on the Virginia State Capitol grounds.

Cycling was an expensive hobby and was initially limited to financially well-to-do Richmond men.