How Bicycles Came About

It was in 1817 when the history of pedaling all began. Baron von Drais was the very first one to invent a machine that would make him go to where he wanted to go faster. The Drasienne or the Hobby Horse was entirely made of wood and was composed of two same-sized wheels. The rider must push his/her foot against the ground so that the Hobby Horse would glide. It became very popular; however, it was impractical to use it in any other place except for smooth and well maintained roads.


After the Hobby Horse, the next invention was the Velocipede which means "fast foot", also known as the Bone Shaker. It was invented in 1865 and was also made of wood. A hybrid type was then created which had metal wheels. These became a fad for only a short time since it gave the riders extremely uncomfortable trips.


In 1870, bicycles made entirely of metal were invented. These bicycles had larger front wheels than back wheels. Solid rubber tires and the large front wheels made the rides even more comfortable and even faster. The creators realized that as the front wheels became larger, the faster the travel becomes. With this, they have invented bicycles which had front wheels as high as the rider's leg length would allow. One major advantage of the high wheeled bicycle, however, was when the rider would suddenly be stopped by something like a stone, he would fall head first.


The design of having two same-sized wheels came back to the lime light. With improvements in metal technology, fine chains were already invented. The hard rubber tires were still maintained and further development led to the application of pneumatic tires. Pneumatic tires were first invented by an Irish veterinarian who wanted to give his son a more comfortable ride. Since then, those bicycles gave riders the most comfortable and safe trips. And because of improvements in manufacturing, bicycles became even more affordable.


In the 1880's and 1890's, because of the growing popularity of bicycling, the League of American Wheelman (now known as the League of American Cyclists) was established.


Now, cycling is still very popular among all ages, even among kids. Not only are bicycles used for traveling, they are also used for promotion of good health. Cycling is good for the heart, muscles, and for the body's over all well being.


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