How to Learn About the Bicycle

The invention of the bicycle is a matter of some debate. Some sources credit the Scottish blacksmith Kirkpatrick MacMillan, who developed a machine around 1839 that was propelled by foot treadles and used cranks, driving rods and handlebars. Other historians credit French carriage-makers Pierre and Ernest Michaux, who first introduced a heavy crank-driven bicycle in 1855. The following steps will aid in your search for information about this invention.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Look for technical information on the bicycle. A bicycle is a two-wheeled, person-powered vehicle driven by pedals. Michaux added cranks and the modern bicycle pedal to his machine in 1861. Michaux's version was perfected around 1865 by Pierre Lallement and ran on ironclad wooden rims with the front wheel larger than the rear one.

2. Read about the Penny Farthing, also referred to as the "high" or "ordinary" bicycle. It was invented in 1871 by British engineer James Starley. The Penny Farthing was the first practical bicycle and had a much larger front wheel which pivoted on a tubular frame with rubber tires.

3. Search websites about history to learn that the bicycle improved rapidly through the 1890s. The safety bicycle had wheels of about the same size with a sprocket-chain connecting the pedals with the rear wheel and was first manufactured in 1885. The pneumatic tire was added in 1888 and additional improvements include adjustable handlebars, the coaster brake, the freewheel, the hand brake and a variable drive gear.

4. Study modern history to know that cycling declined with the introduction of automobiles, but it has recently grown in popularity largely due to mountain bicycles that were introduced in the 1970s. Today, bicycles are still a more common means of transportation than the automobile in some parts of the world.