How in the world did I almost miss this one?!
You all know by now that when it comes to Glenn H. Curtiss, I am always ready for another chapter of his remarkable story. And somehow, this little gem of an event nearly slipped right past me!
Well, not on my watch!
Because
tomorrow, Saturday, October 17, the
Glenn H. Curtiss Museum is taking us back to a time before roaring motorcycle engines, before the June Bug lifted off the ground, and before a young man from Hammondsport helped change the course of aviation history.
Back to where his need for speed really began.
On two wheels. With pedals. And a whole lot of determination.
And believe me, this is one chapter of the Curtiss story worth exploring
!
🚲 Before the Motorcycle, There Was a Bicycle
Long before Glenn Curtiss earned the title of The Fastest Man on Earth, he was a young fellow with a fascination for anything that moved.
And more importantly, anything he could make move
faster!
In the closing years of the 19th century, bicycles were all the rage. They represented freedom, adventure, competition, and for a mechanically minded young Glenn Curtiss, an irresistible opportunity to tinker, improve, and race.
But Glenn wasn't simply interested in riding a bicycle.
Oh, no.
He wanted to understand every moving part, every gear, every spoke, and every possibility for squeezing just a little more speed out of those two wheels.
And he wasn't alone.
🏁 The Hammondsport Boys and a Need for Speed
Now, if you've been following our Keuka Roots stories about Glenn Curtiss, you already know that some of my favorite chapters involve the
Hammondsport Boys.
A spirited group of young men who shared a love of bicycles, racing, friendly competition, and, I suspect, a fair amount of good-natured mischief.
Among them was Curtiss's longtime friend Tank Waters, one of those wonderful characters who reminds us that even history's greatest pioneers didn't accomplish everything alone.
These young men raced, experimented, encouraged one another, and helped create the competitive environment that would shape Curtiss's future.
And tucked into this story is another fascinating local connection.
A Hammondsport pharmacist named James H. Smellie.
💊 What Does a Pharmacist Have to Do With Bicycle Racing?
Quite a bit, as it turns out!
James Smellie was more than the village pharmacist. He was an important supporter of young Glenn Curtiss and the Hammondsport Boys.
And here's a little piece of history I especially love.
Smellie helped the boys seek racing sponsorships, including an appeal to
Stearns & Co., a name associated with the bicycle industry during that era.
Think about that for a moment.
Before corporate sponsorships became commonplace in professional racing, a pharmacist in a little village at the southern end of Keuka Lake was helping a group of ambitious young bicycle racers pursue opportunities beyond their hometown.
It is another wonderful reminder that behind every great pioneer are people who believe in their potential.
People who encourage.
People who open doors.
And sometimes, people who simply recognize that a young fellow with grease on his hands and big ideas in his head might just be going somewhere.
In Glenn Curtiss's case, he certainly was!
☕ A Little Coffee, Some Goodies, and a Whole Lot of History!
Tomorrow, the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum will bring this early chapter of Curtiss's life into focus with
“Curtiss: The Bicycle Years.”
And the setting couldn't be more inviting.
Head over to
Service Station FLX, grab yourself a coffee and something delicious, and settle in for a fascinating look at the years when Curtiss was still discovering just how far two wheels could take him.
The event will feature a display of historic bicycles and presentations exploring Curtiss's early racing days, including James Smellie's efforts to help the Hammondsport Boys secure sponsorships.
🚲 Event Details
Curtiss: The Bicycle Years
📅
Saturday, October 17, 2026
🕤
9:30 AM – 1:30 PM
🎤
Presentations at 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM
📍
Service Station FLX
🏛️
Presented by the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum
Come explore the bicycles, the friendships, the competition, and the early mechanical curiosity that helped set one of America's greatest aviation pioneers on his remarkable journey.
❤️ Every Great Story Has a Beginning
One of the things I love most about researching and writing Glenn Curtiss's story is discovering how the smallest chapters often lead to the biggest moments.
We remember the motorcycle that shattered speed records.
We remember the June Bug soaring above the fields of Hammondsport.
We remember the seaplanes, the Navy pilots, and the remarkable machines that helped usher in a new era of flight.
But before all of that, there was a boy from Hammondsport who loved bicycles.
A group of friends who loved to race.
A pharmacist who believed in their ambitions.
And a young mechanic who never stopped asking himself one very important question:
“How can I make it go faster?”
That curiosity would eventually carry Glenn Curtiss from the roads around Keuka Lake into the history books.
And it all began with a bicycle.
So, if you're looking for something a little different to do tomorrow, here's your opportunity to discover a chapter of local history that deserves its moment in the spotlight.
And to the folks at the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum, thank you for continuing to bring these wonderful pieces of our hometown history to life!
Because before Glenn Curtiss chased the wind through the skies, he chased it down the roads of Hammondsport.
And oh, what a ride it would become!
A heartfelt Thanks to Service Station FLX for hosting this wonderful event~
Stay Rooted. Stay Keuka.™
Small Towns. Big Stories. One Crooked Lake.™
