Here are a couple of short films ive found from the 20s showing how it used to be, Even the roads were either mud or mud on cobbles
No jumping over boards no swapping bikes
http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=15247
http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=15846
http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=24636
lots more on this site enjoy:w00t: