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The First Verifiable Claim of a Bicycle
The "DraisIne" was a bicycle originally designed without pedals since its purpose was to drive on rails. It was only for the wealthy at first, but diffused and was improved in later times. -
The First Innovation
Thought to be invented by Thomas McCall, but was found to be first invented by Kirkpatrick MacMillan. In this version, there are pedals, and no rails are needed to travel. Also, it was made using steel rods rather than wood, making for a sturdier bicycle. The large back wheel made for a somehwat umcomfortable ride. -
The Pedal-Bicycle
Also called the Michaux, this bicycle was orignally designed in France and became immensely popular due to its affordability. The frame was made of metal, which made the bike lighter than thick steel or wood, and it also allowed mass production of the object. When it came to the U.S., this bicycle was often called the "Bone-Shaker" because it wasn't very sturdy or comfortable. -
The High-Wheel Bicycle
This bicycle was called the "Penny Farthing" in England and some placesin the Americas, but was known as the "High-Wheel" in most of Europe and Central Asia. These bikes were the fastest of their kind, but extremely unsafe. They caused many injuries, the most prominent being broken wrists as people would try to break their fall with their hands. The major innovation that came out with this model is the tension on the spokes. Since the front wheel was so large, the spokes were made of metal. -
The Safety Bicycle
The 19th century was known as the "Bicycle Craze", or golden age of bicycles. By this time the bicycle was becoming a major form of transportation in the Americas. This bike was desinged for thing: Comfort. As the bike was becoming more prominent in culture, a comfortable bike was neccessary, and this one delivered. The new seats were plush and the tires were thicker, inducing a smoother ride. The upper-class even had some adjustable seat heights and handlebars. -
Modern Bicycle
One of the major innovations that changed the bike in the 20th century was, surprisingly, the disc brake. This allowed a much smoother ride and it also allowed people to ride in the rain or snow. Another major innovation was the alloy frame. This frame was much lighter and more durable than steel or wood.
