Sutherland ladies’ bicycle, about 1910. National Museum of Australia. Photo: Katie Shanahan.

Marion and Arthur Sutherland manufactured and sold quality bicycles at their shop opposite the Toorak railway station in Melbourne. This step-through ladies’ frame bike owned by Marion was one of Arthur’s designs. It could be ridden comfortably in a long skirt, or the more daring attire of knickerbockers or a divided skirt. Marion used her bicycle to deliver the shop takings to the bank, run errands and for leisure. Bicycles were often stolen and so her machine features a front-wheel steering lock that, when engaged, prevents the handlebars from turning, making it unrideable until unlocked with a key.

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Billie Samuels, with her Malvern Star bicycle, is farewelled by supporters as she sets out to break the record for riding from Sydney to Melbourne, 1934. Photo: State Library of New South Wales (hood_04234).

In May 1934, Billie Samuels, a diminutive 23-year-old Victorian, set the women’s record for riding from Melbourne to Sydney when she completed the journey in 3 days and 17 hours. A few months later, Samuels turned around and rode from Sydney to Melbourne, breaking Elsa Barbour’s 1932 record of 3 days and 7 hours.

Reima Miezitis leaving on a cycling trip to Bruny Island, Tasmania, wearing denim riding shorts she fashioned from her brother’s overalls, about 1953. Courtesy: Miezitis family.

Reima Miezitis and her brother restored this bicycle in 1945, adding Malvern Star wheels, painting the frame and replating the chrome finish on the handlebars. At the age of 15, Miezitis began riding it most days to Hobart Technical College from her home at Moonah, a journey of some seven kilometres. After she completed her studies, Miezitis took her bike on the train to work so she could ride regularly at lunchtime. From her early 20s, she rode it on day trips around Hobart, and took longer tours to Bruny Island to go riding for the weekend.

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Anna Meares strains as she starts the 500-metre time trial final at the World Track Championship in Poland, 2009. Photo: AFP/Newspix.

Inspired by Kathy Watt’s cycling success, Meares started competitive cycling at the age of 11. At 21, she joined the Australian Institute of Sport's track cycling program and has become one of Australia’s most successful cyclists. She has achieved multiple world championship victories, and is a national and Commonwealth, world and Olympic record holder.

Kate Leeming cycling around the continent, 2004. Photo: Geoff Yeoman.

Kate Leeming and her riding partner Geoff Yeoman left Canberra in May 2004 on a 25,000-kilometre journey around Australia. Their trip took in more than 7000 kilometres of some of Australia’s most isolated and rugged tracks, including the Cape York Peninsula Development Road, the Gulf Track, the Tanami Track and the Gunbarrel Highway. They visited Aboriginal communities, cattle stations and other remote outposts and towns.

Leeming cycled alone for the second half of her journey, becoming the first woman to pedal the 1800-kilometre Canning Stock Route in remote Western Australia. She returned to Canberra, accompanied again by Yeoman for the last week of the expedition, in February 2005. Leeming is planning to cycle across Antarctica.

Modified Roadmaster bicycle belonging to Reima Miezitis, about 1945. Miezitis and her brother restored the bike, which Reima later rode to technical college and on weekend tours. National Museum of Australia. Photo: Jason McCarthy.

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Kathy Watt on her way to victory in the Individual Road Race event at the Barcelona Olympic Games, Spain, 1992. Photo: Chris Cole, Allsport.

At the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Kathy Watt became the first Australian – male or female – to win an Olympic cycling road race. She also won silver on the track in the three-kilometre Pursuit, becoming the first Australian woman to win an Olympic track medal.

Skinsuit worn at the Paralympic Games, London, 2012. Donated by Sue Powell. National Museum of Australia. Photo: George Serras.

Sue Powell, a multiple world champion medallist, won gold in the three-kilometre individual pursuit (C4 classification) and silver in the road race at the 2012 Paralympics.

Carbon fibre leg brace, 2009. Donated by Sue Powell. National Museum of Australia. Photo: George Serras.

In 2007, Sue Powell suffered a herniation of a vertebral disc and took up cycling to help with her recovery. She is now a world champion. Powell wears a brace to stabilise her lower leg and transfer power from her upper leg to the pedal.