Bicycles are fun to ride. Many people love them. But do you know about the first bicycle? What was it called? Let’s find out together!
Credit: www.britannica.com
The Beginning of Bicycles
Long ago, there were no cars. People walked everywhere. Then, someone had a bright idea. Make a machine to help us travel. This idea led to the first bicycle.
The first bicycle was not like today’s bikes. It had no pedals. It had no chain. People pushed it with their feet. Just like walking!
The Draisine: The First Bicycle
The first bicycle was called the Draisine. A man named Karl Drais invented it. He was a German inventor. He made it in 1817. The Draisine was also known as the “running machine.”
It was made of wood. It looked like a horse. But it had two wheels. One in the front and one in the back. It did not have pedals. So, people used their feet to move.
How the Draisine Worked
The Draisine was simple. To ride it, people sat on a seat. Then, they pushed with their feet. It was like running. But faster and easier.
The Draisine was light. People could steer it. They used the front wheel to turn. It was fun and exciting. People enjoyed it a lot.
Evolution of Bicycles
The Draisine started it all. But people wanted more. They wanted to go faster. They wanted to ride easier. So, inventors kept improving.
The Velocipede
The next step was the Velocipede. It came in the 1860s. This bicycle had pedals. They were on the front wheel. Now, people could ride without pushing.
The Velocipede was faster. But it was hard to ride. The roads were bumpy. The ride was not smooth. People called it the “bone shaker.”
The Penny-farthing
Then came the Penny-Farthing. It had a big front wheel. The back wheel was small. It looked funny but was popular.
The big wheel helped it go fast. But it was dangerous. People fell often. And they got hurt.
Safety Bicycle
Finally, the Safety Bicycle arrived. It looked like today’s bikes. It had two equal-sized wheels. It had a chain to move the back wheel.
The Safety Bicycle was safe. It was easy to ride. Many people loved it.
Impact of Bicycles
Bicycles changed the world. They made travel easy. People could go far. They could see new places.
Bicycles were good for health. Riding was exercise. It kept people strong.
Bicycles were also cheap. More people could afford them. They were not just for the rich.
Credit: ilovebicycling.com
