The “high wheels” of 19th-century bicycles rolled Saturday through downtown Lawrence, captivating onlookers and giving them a history lesson at the same time.

“I’ve only seen one of these before, in a museum,” Lawrence resident Patrick Zollner said as he stood with his family, examining one of the dozens of bikes with a large front wheel and small back wheel on display outside the Lawrence Visitor Center, 402 N. Second St.

“I think they’re neat. I’d like to ride one,” Zollner said.

The old bikes belong to members of the Wheelmen, a national club for vintage-bicycle collectors and restorers. About 160 of them gathered in Baldwin late last week for their annual meet and to take part in riding activities in Douglas and Franklin counties.

During a Saturday morning parade, the Wheelmen pumped their pedals from South Park, up Massachusetts Street and across the Kansas River bridge to the visitor center.

At the visitor center, Zollner lifted his 5-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, onto the seat of one of the big-wheeled bikes. Elizabeth, however, said she was quite content to stick to riding her own, much smaller, bike at home.

“It was pretty scary,” Elizabeth said of sitting on the big bike. “My feet wouldn’t reach the pedals.”

Riding a bicycle with an oversized front tire made of solid rubber intimidated even the adults.

“It’s a whole new thought process,” said Bruce Reed, of Little Rock, Ark., as he described learning how to mount, ride and dismount the high-wheelers, something he’s been doing for six years. “But it’s a lot of fun. Your head is eight feet up in the air and you can see a lot of things up there.”

Steve and Carolyn Carter, from Plainfield, Ind., wave to onlookers as they pedal along Massachusetts Street. The Wheelmen, a group of vintage-bicycle collectors and restorers, rode Saturday through Lawrence.

About 100 people gathered along the circle drive in front of the Visitor Center as the Wheelmen put on demonstrations on how to ride the high wheels, then performed stunts on them.

“Learning these tricks takes an awful lot of patience and sometimes a Band-Aid,” said Steve Stevens, of Golden, Colo.

James McKenzie, a Lawrence firefighter, joined the Wheelmen and started riding old bicycles 15 years ago. He has ridden in two cross-country trips.

“I’ve always done a lot of bicycling, and I like to collect antiques,” McKenzie said. “There is something about an old bike that calls out to me.”

Not all of the bikes were high-wheelers. Other turn-of-the-century bikes with similarities to today’s two-wheelers were ridden by Wheelmen.

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“I think its great to see the different ages of people who are riding,” said Elaine Taylor, Lawrence, who watched the demonstration with a friend, Sally Bateman, also of Lawrence.

“It’s a family thing to do,” Bateman said.

Wheelmen riders took a break for a portrait in South Park's gazebo. Saturday, the group rode through Lawrence on 19th-century bicycles.

Some riders also attached antique horns and saddle bags to dress up their big-wheeled bicycles.

Diane Blake, of Orlando, Fla., above, rides along Vermont Street toward South Park.