Did you ever wonder who invented the bicycle? Here, we will learn about the people who contributed to this great machine.
Early Bicycles
One of the first bicycles was the celerifere, which was invented in 1790 by Comte Mede de Sivrac. This bicycle had two wheels connected by a pole and a seat. The celerifere had no pedals or brakes, and since the wheels were fixed to the pole, it was difficult to steer the bicycle. To ride the bicycle, one had to push forward with their feet on the ground.
Another bicycle was invented by Baron Karl von Drais in 1817. This early bicycle was called the dandy horse, the swiftwalker, or the running machine. The bicycle’s frame and wheels were made of wood. The tires had iron rims and were covered in leather. This bicycle required a running start to get it moving.
In 1860 and 1861, Ernest Michaux and Pierre Lallement built a bicycle called the velocipede. This bicycle was very similar to the celerifere. Kirkpatrick Macmillan invented levers and pedals for the velocipede. By adding pedals, a person could ride the bicycle with their feet off the ground. In the mid 1800s, the velocipede was nicknamed the “boneshaker” because riders could feel every bump while riding this bicycle.
The penny farthing bicycle was invented in 1870. This bicycle had a very large front wheel connected to a smaller wheel. The pedals were attached to the front wheel, and the seat was above both wheels. The penny farthing bicycle was very difficult to mount and dangerous to ride. This bicycle was named after two British coins because the wheels’ size resembled the comparison between a farthing (a quarter-penny) and a penny, the small wheel being the farthing.
In 1879, Henry J. Lawson made a bicycle called a bicyclette. This bicycle was similar to the penny farthing; it had a big wheel and a little wheel. The bicyclette had a chain-driven mechanism to move the pedals that were between the two wheels. It was safer to ride than the penny farthing.
Development of the Modern Bicycle
More people started to invent things to improve the bicycle. In 1868, Clement Ader patented rubber wheels. Hans Renold created the roller chain in the 1870s. The pneumatic (inflatable) tire was invented by John Boyd Dunlop in 1888. The following year, Daniel Stover and William Hance patented the pedal-back brake. Then, in 1896, William Reilly patented two-speed gears. Early bicycles used to be made with heavy steel frames, but by the year 1890, people were making lightweight bicycles. In 1940, bicycles even had kickstands.
The safety bicycle was invented by John Kemp Starley in 1885. This bicycle had two wheels of the same size, pedals, a seat, and a chain mechanism. The safety bicycle was much easier to steer and ride, and it was safer than the earlier bicycles.
Interesting Facts About Bicycles
There were many other types of bicycles that people designed and built. William Grout invented the portable bicycle in 1878. The first tandem (two-person) bicycle was patented by William Starley and Herbert S. Owen in 1889. Joe Breeze invented the mountain bicycle in the 1970s. The three-wheeled tricycle was invented in 1850, and the unicycle was invented in the 1870s. Bicycle riding schools were common in 1869.
The history of the bicycle is very interesting. The bicycle is an amazing invention that has been developed and improved by many people over the years.
