When Was Cycling Invented? Two centuries ago this summer marked an historic event in the history of an everyday invention: the bicycle.
Cycling is an effective low-impact exercise that increases strength, stamina, and aerobic fitness while reducing stress levels. Over the decades its design has evolved; initially bicycles were dangerous boneshakers.
The Celerifere
Experts disagree about who invented the first bike, yet all agree on one thing – its modern evolution has taken place gradually over time. Early two-wheelers resembled more child’s toys than functional vehicles on rough, cobbled streets, making riding difficult in urban settings. One such early model called celerifere had two equal-sized wheels but no steering, brakes or pedals for easy propulsion forward using legs to propel themselves like modern day balance bikes for children.
Celerifere evolved through various iterations before finally taking its form as we know and love today. In 1817, Baron von Drais created the Draisienne (also referred to as swift-walker or laufmaschine). This machine had a steerable front wheel and padded seat – yet no pedals! Drais was much simpler to ride so he took upon himself the name Draisienne in honor of himself!
By the late 1860s, draisienne bikes began resembling modern bicycles with solid tires, padded saddle and low metal frame. One early known race took place between Saint-Cloud Park fountains and entrance in Paris; but cycling truly blossomed as a sport following 1869 with city-to-city races becoming widespread.
The Draisienne
Baron Karl von Drais’ wooden invention of the Draisienne in 1817 is widely considered to be the progenitor of today’s bicycles. Also referred to as a velocipede or hobby horse, riders pushed themselves along by pushing off with their feet on the ground instead of pedaling or shifting gears. It quickly gained popularity in Germany before spreading quickly across England and the United States – Charles Wilson Peale included one in his Philadelphia museum while rentals and riding rinks sprouted across cities nationwide until it was eventually banned due to rutted wheels that couldn’t keep up.
French inventors began adding pedals and cranks to the front wheel of velocipedes during the 1860s. These early bicycles, sometimes referred to as boneshakers, proved more efficient than their predecessors but still required pushing with one’s feet. Decades later however, another key breakthrough would arrive: someone would put pedals onto bikes so riders could steer with their hands instead of only their feet.
This week’s Smithsonian Snapshot features the oldest draisine from our collection, donated in 1964. Draisines provide an ideal toy for kids and adults who don’t wish to sit still, helping channel energy into movement, balance, and coordination.
The Penny-Farthing
The penny farthing was a bicycle with an extremely large front wheel that was significantly larger than its rear. These large wheels caused considerable instability and difficulty when riding them; hence their name “penny-farthing.” Additionally, their large front wheel often hit right against their rider’s crotch, creating an uncomfortable riding experience and occasionally leading to injury.
James Starley’s invention of the bicycle made it popular in England, where it first gained widespread usage. James revolutionized many aspects of bicycle production and creation including ball bearings and solid rubber tires; gears; chain drive; lighter frames made out of steel instead of cast iron; chain drive drive systems and more!
Penny-farthings were still dangerous to ride, even though they were easier to mount and dismount than velocipedes. Even with more stable wheels, they could still become unstable on rough roads and difficult to steer; their high wheel design also made “headers,” in which riders would become propelled forward over their front wheel more frequently than usual, more likely.
Though early cycling contraptions may appear strange to us now, they played an integral part in shaping cycling as both an artistic pursuit and form of transportation. They served as precursors for modern bikes that quickly spread throughout the world in the 1870s and 1880s.
The Rover
Two centuries ago, Comte de Sivrac introduced a unique mode of transportation in Paris called a celerifere scooter that could not be controlled with steering. Instead, riders needed to change direction by jumping, lifting, or dragging the front wheel – which proved ineffective and unsafe due to its height.
Baron Karl von Drais’ 1818 Laufmaschine (running machine), or “dandy horse”, or Laufmaschine, significantly enhanced the celerifere with a steering front wheel and padded saddle to allow early cyclists to exert greater force on the ground. Patented in Paris as a velocipede until 1869 when “bicycle” became its formal name.
John Kemp Starley created what many consider the first true bicycle, featuring chain-driven pedals and gear system, rubber tires, frame-attached pedals and equal sized spoked wheels – five years after Drais’s draisienne had first made an appearance – shortly thereafter. Starley’s Rover Safety Bicycle marked an enormous improvement from Drais’s bone-shaker bicycle; today bikes are safer and more efficient than ever and have replaced traditional forms of transportation as a primary mode. A surge in interest for cycling has even led to dedicated bike lanes being created across major cities worldwide.
Read this also: What Is British Cycling Membership?
Where Did Cycling Originate?
Cycling’s origin is often debated and much speculation exists as to its beginnings; many claim to have invented it themselves! Yet cycling only really caught on during the 1800s and remains extremely popular today with over 1 billion bicycles being used worldwide for sport, transportation and recreation purposes.
Cycling was officially introduced as a sport on May 31, 1868 when its inaugural race took place between the fountains and entrance of Saint-Cloud Park in Paris, France. Since then, cycling has evolved and expanded worldwide – people from every continent participate in road, mountain, track, BMX races!
Major breakthroughs in cycling occurred during the late 1860s and early 20th century when large international organizations were created to organize cyclists worldwide, including creating influential races such as Tour de France. Furthermore, regulations and rules were devised specifically for cycling events and racing competitions.
Early off-road cycling also saw several noteworthy advancements. For instance, riders belonging to the 25th Infantry Bicycle Corps modified their bikes specifically for riding over rough terrain and even rode long distances – with one rider covering one mile in only 57.8 seconds earning him the moniker Mile-a-Minute Murphy! Other notable innovations for off-road bikes include dropper posts that lower your seatpost to decrease centre of gravity when riding and tubeless tyre inserts which reduce puncture risk through lightweight foam hoops made from lightweight foam hoops that reduce puncture risk significantly
Read also: ngebike.com.
