Woman's Bicycle

Founded in 1923, Motobécane was a French manufacturer of bicycles, mopeds, motorcycles, and other small vehicles. "Motobécane" is a compound of "moto," slang for motorcycle and "bécane," slang for "bike." Motobécane, a major manufacturer in the French bicycle industry, was known for designing very lightweight bicycles.

This bicycle belonged to Richmond resident Elizabeth Scott Bocock (1901-1985). She had it repaired at Rowlett’s of Richmond, where it was rediscovered in the service department decades after her death.

Elisabeth Scott Bocock (1901 - 1985) was born in Richmond, Virginia, and grew up at 909 West Franklin Street. In 1928, Elisabeth married local attorney John Holmes Bocock. Following her husband’s death in 1958, Bocock enrolled in university classes and eventually received a liberal arts degree from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Richmonders remember Elisabeth Bocock cycling around downtown streets on her distinctive blue bicycle. Bocock is credited with energizing Richmond’s historic preservation and cultural communities.

A December 16, 1985 Richmond Times-Dispatch article includes the following excerpt: While Mrs. Bocock was studying in Pennsylvania, she never missed one of her daughter's basketball games at St. Timothy's in Baltimore. "She had a little Japanese folding bicycle on which she would ride to the train station, fold it up, get on the train, catch a taxi in Baltimore, and then, after the game, reverse the process.”