Wheeling Through Time
The history of Bikes up to the present, Websites to check out and great books to read about bikes. Geared toward children but great for a quick insight.
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Could you imagine doing bike tricks on a bike that was made entirely of wood and had metal wheels? How did they get to be the bikes we ride today and what did kids our age ride during the 1800’s and early 1900’s? It all started with a man named Baron Von Drais, who in 1817 invented a very primitive form of the bike we ride today. He was a gardener and needed something to help him get around the large gardens he tended. People began to call it a Hobby Horse and was a fad for a while but not the least bit practical seeing how there were no pedals or breaks. Then in 1865 the Velocipede or Boneshaker was invented. It literally means fast foot. It was made of wood and had metal tires.
Now you can imagine why they called it the boneshaker especially when you know they didn’t have paved roads back then. So to make things a little easier on everyone indoor academies, similar to the roller rinks of today were created for people to ride around in. in 1870 the High wheel Bicycle and the adult Tricycle were invented. The High Wheel Bicycle had two wheels one was very large. Big wheel’s meant they went farther. They were very popular but cost six months of a persons income to buy. Ladies and men of distinction rode on the high Wheel tricycle. It was considered to be a little more cultured than the two wheels. Bicycling was becoming a very popular sport. In the 1880’s and 1890’s the league of American Wheelman was created. Today it is called the League of American Bicyclists. As a result of the bicycle the road were improved and this paved the way for the automobile which was close on the heels of the bicycle. There are a lot of great moments in bicycle history but two of the neatest were in 1940 the kickstand was invented and in 1996 Mountain bikes competed in the Olympic games. The Bicycle has come a long way from having no breaks, pedals or a chain to being some of the most comfortable and definitely cheapest form of transportation. Bikes are lighter now and as a result we can do amazing things with them.
Two great books to read are:
- “Collecting and restoring Antique Bicycles” by G. Donald Adams
- “Bicycle: The History “ by David V. Herlihy
