Out of Steam

True, it was a vast improvement over the toil of riding a bicycle thirty miles across the hilly countryside to the next town, and it had been a great ride, while it lasted. However, the limitations of his invention became quite clear in this first test run.

The heat generated by the boiler was unbearable, even with the wind-effect generated by higher speeds, but the real problem was in fuel range, a point driven home as he pushed his lococycle the last two miles into town.

Now, to find a homeowner willing to part with a bucket of coal.

This bit of flash-fiction is in response to the Friday Fictioneers prompt from Rochelle Wisoff-Fields – to write a complete story in 100 words or less, using the provided photo prompt. Word count here: 100.  (Other entries can be seen here.)

Yes, there were steam cycles in the 1860s: the Michaux-Perraux steam velocipede, with an alcohol-fueled engine, and the Roper steam velocipede, which was coal-fired with an exhaust stack.

Photo prompt ©: Jellico’s Stationhouse