I Want To Ride My Bicycle!
Written by Nolan Thomas, Thursday April 23 2009
Cycling is the use of bicycles, and is considered a HPV, (human powered vehicle). Cycling is done just about anywhere, on roads, paths, trails and tracks.
Bicycles are the most common version of a cycle and were introduced during the 19th century. There are now close to one billion bicycles throughout the world. Bicycles are the leading forms of transportation in many countries around the world.
The bicycles name dates back from 1869. There were different forerunners of the bicycle, which were known as Velocipedes. This French name dates back to the late 1700s.
These earlier two-wheeled vehicles did not have any pedals and were propelled by the rider’s feet. They became popular during the late 1600s.
In 1690, a Frenchman invented the Celerifere, which consisted of a wooden beam attached to two wheels. This vehicle did not have a handlebar, as the rider would sit on a pillow that was placed on the beam and would move and steer the vehicle by pushing their feet against the ground.
In 1816, a German nobleman invented the first bicycle like vehicle with a handlebar for steering the device. It was called the Draisine, after him, and had a handlebar that swiveled on the frame, which allowed the front wheel to be turned.
French, German, Scottish, and British inventors later refined and improved the original bicycles.
In
In 1839, Kirkpatrick Macmillan of
In 1846, a Scotsman improved this machine, and it attained the name Dalsell. This machine was used extensively throughout
The direct descendant of today’s bicycle was the French Velocipede, which became a crowd pleaser in
In
In 1869, solid rubber tires that were mounted on steel rims were introduced in
In 1873, an English inventor named Jamse Starley, invented the first machine incorporating most of the features of the high-wheel bicycle. The front wheel of Starley's machine was more then three times as large as the rear wheel.
The enormous vibration and imbalance of the high-wheel bicycle, sparked inventors to turn their thoughts to reducing the height of the bicycle. Somewhere around 1880, the low machine was invented. The wheels were about the same size, the pedals were attached to a sprocket with gears and a chain, and it propelled the rear wheel instead of the front one.
During the next fifteen years, modifications and improvements of the bicycle included the ball bearing and the pneumatic tire. These inventions, along with the use of steel tubing and spring seats, brought the bicycle to its maximum point of development.
In the
American cyclists grew in numbers and they became strong benefactors of a nationwide campaign for improved roads.
In 1899, with a valve of more then $31 million, the American production of bicycles was at approximately 1 million a year. However, by 1909, the
With air pollution from automobile exhaust causing great concern during the 1960s and'70s, along with the energy crisis at the time, the bicycles popularity increased tremendously.
Special bicycle lanes and special bike paths were developed throughout the country. In the 1970s and '80s, a big boom on physical fitness just increased this popularity. By the middle of the 1980s, an estimated 82 million bicycles were in use in the
The most popular bicycle was the lightweight ten-speed touring bike, which was designed with the European racing model bicycles in mind. The all-terrain bike, for off road use with its waffle-tread tires along with a heavier frame, was a rugged and more maneuverable bike then the popular ten-speed version.
It would not be at all strange if history came to the conclusion that the perfection of the bicycle was the greatest incident of the nineteenth century. ~Author unknown.
The bicycle is the most civilized conveyance known to man. Other forms of transport grow daily more nightmarish. Only the bicycle remains pure in heart. ~Iris Murdoch
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