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History of the BicycleEnjoy a brief overview of the history of the bicycle, from velocipedes, to penny farthings, to the safety bicycle, illustrated with vintage bicycle posters.
Velocipedes In Germany Karl von Drais, a civil servant to the Grand Duke of Baden, who had studied mathematics, physics, and architecture at the university of Heidelberg invented his Laufmaschine (running machine) of 1817 that was called Draisine by the press and then later, velocipede. Le Bicycle Velocipede It was in Paris during the late 1860s that a renaissance of the two-wheeled velocipede now with pedals on the front wheel took place: "le velocipede bicycle," as the French said, i.e. the two-wheeled velocipede. Boneshaker Bicycle The early bicycles, nicknamed 'boneshakers' in America, and as heavy as a motorcycle today, weren't easy to handle Penny Farthing Bicycle Before the development of a gear system to multiply the revolutions of bicycle pedals, these were linked directly to the wheel. One man in Paris found the solution to make larger front wheels for speed without adding too much weight Safety Bicycle Attempts to make the bicycle safer and reduce the size of the front-wheel finally led to a radical change of bicycle ergonomics. John Kemp Starley, James' nephew, set the fashion to the world with his 'Rovers' from 1885 on (never patented) that featured equally sized wheels and a chain drive to the rear wheel. Social Impact of the Bicycle Bicycles are three times as efficient as walking and three to four times as fast. Moreover, in terms of distance and speed travelled compared to energy consumed, the bicycle is the most efficient machine yet created. The widespread availability of bicycles had a major social impact in several ways: Women & Bicycles The two-wheeled, diamond-frame safety bicycle (basically the same one we ride today) gave women unprecedented mobility, and contributed to their emancipation. Technology & Bicycles Innovations pioneered by the bicycle industry included lightweight steel tubing, wire spokes, chain and shaft drives, drop forging, adjustable ball bearings, variable gears, single tube pneumatic tires, reliable brakes, steering wheels, uniform interchangeable parts, and assembly line techniques for mass production Bicycles Today More and more people are also using the bicycle as a short-range transportation tool, particularly in large, densely populated cities where slow vehicle traffic, high registration and parking costs, and environmental concerns have made commuting by automobile less attractive.
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