Unlike other inventions like electricity and light bulb, the origin of bicycle has never been very clear on who invented it.  Depending on the nationality of who you ask you could get an American if you asked an American, a Scotsman or a Frenchman if you asked people of those nationalities. The bicycle went through centuries of innovation and improvement before arriving at what we have today.

 

The first authentic bicycle was made in the year 1817 by Karl Drais von Sauerbronn to facilitate transportation during an acute shortage of horses for carriages. However, this device did not have any pedals and had to be moved by pushing one's feet against the ground. The question remains whether a bicycle without a pedal can be called a bicycle or not.

 

The next improvement took place in 1863 with the invention of the bone shaker or the Velocipede. The importance of this improvement can be understood from the fact that a museum dedicated to this innovation exists even today. The discomfort involved in riding this device over cobblestones prevented it from becoming more popular.

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The year 1870 saw the bicycle become a lot more comfortable with the use of a big front wheel and solid rubber tires. However, even the slightest jerk would send the rider crashing to the ground. This proved to be a major impediment in the spread of bicycles.

 

As technology improved, bicycle manufacturing became more specialized. Ball bearings, caliper brakes, speed gears- all made their introduction as the first American manufacturer of cycles came into existence in 1878.

 

Safety improved and people began lobbying for better roads to make bicycle driving more comfortable. In the meantime, the rear wheel driven bicycle, as we know it today, was designed and proclaimed to be a lot safer. It was named the Bicyclette and was a French innovation.

 

The 1880's saw better and better bicycles being made. The 1890's was called a gay decade and the bicycle is credited for making quick transportation a reality. In 1896, Susan B. Anthony said that "the bicycle has done more for the emancipation of women than anything else in the world."

 

However, the idea of not using a solid piece of rubber as the tire did not come about until, a young doctor named Dunlop came up with the bright idea of using air filled rubber tube to make the bicycle faster and more comfortable. A new era was born with bicycles being used by adults and kids alike. Bicycle clubs were formed and bicycle racing became a sport.

 

World War I and World War II saw the growing importance of the bicycle. Of course, the automobile industry attracted all the attention and many feared that the bicycle may become a thing of the past. However, the bicycle has retained its charm and utility even today and has diversified and grown into a huge industry.

 

 

 

Mon is an exrecise enthisisat and likes to keep fit and healthy. His other interests include biking, and biking accessories like Bike Aero Bars and keeping your water container clean using Cleaning Camel Back

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