bicycle evolution

modern wheels

the story and bicycle evolution It has been intense over the years. It went through many transformations and improvements to become what we know today. Although it may seem like a simple invention, it is not. After many versions of the bicycle, we have been developing more efficient parts until we have the current bicycle.

In this article we are going to tell you everything you need to know about the evolution of the bicycle, what are the different models that have existed and how it has changed over the years.

Origin of the bicycle

evolution of the bicycle throughout history

From time immemorial to the present, there is evidence that man has used the concept of two connected wheels and a rod for centuries as a form of movement in his mind. It is possible that at the time of ancient Egypt a device similar to a bicycle was thought of. In fact, a hieroglyph on the Luxor Obelisk now in Paris Square is dedicated to Ramses II and shows a man astride two wheels circa 1300 BC on the horizontal bar.

Another Middle East, the Babylonians, they incorporated a bicycle-like device into one of their bas-relief ornaments. The Romans also seem to have thought of this, as reflected in the frescoes found in the ruins of Pompeii. You can see some graphics similar to the Luxor Obelisk.

In this renaissance cathedral in Buckinghamshire, England, there is a painting of a little angel who appears to be riding a strange kind of bicycle; it was from 1580.

Also in a painting by Leonardo da Vinci about four hundred years ago, it is surprising to see an artifact that looks very much like a bicycle.

Although the case described may be accidental, considering that humans have been using wheels for 5.000 years, the truth is that until the end of the XNUMXth century, no one thought of aligning two wheels and sitting on a rod joining them. Let's take a look at the origin of the bicycle.

In 1645, a Frenchman named Jean Théson photographed a Hulk, which he called "celeriferous," walking upright through the streets of Fontainebleau. It could be said that it was already a motorcycle, although it did not resemble what we understand today. His journey is short because no directional system has yet been created to guide her. In 1790, the Count de Sivrac rode a wheeled contraption through the streets of Paris from a hill, to the laughter of the spectators and the scandal of the aristocracy.

Subsequently, the French M. Blanchard and M. Masurier built an automobile whose description appeared in the Paris Review in 1799 under the name of vélocipèdes or light feet. King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette of the time liked the idea so much that they sponsored the invention and encouraged its promoters.

Blanchard and Masuriel, machinists and physicists respectively, used ideas from a century ago of Jacques Ozanam, a brilliant mathematician whose doctors suggested building a tricycle known in his day as a mechanic, whose rear wheel was driven by a bracket that could turn like a mill. wind. Anyway, maybe those crazy pots from the XNUMXth century don't deserve to be called bicycles because they used to have more than two wheels.

who invented the bicycle

origin and evolution of the bicycle

If you wonder when and who invented the bicycle? You know, the first bicycles appeared in the XNUMXth century. In 1818, Baron Carl von Drais von Sauerbronn invented a treadmill and patented it under the name vélocipède. The people popularized under the name of draisiana.

Out of curiosity, the baron's full name is Karl Wilhelm Ludwig Friedrich von Drais von Sauerbronn. That's it, while the Draisian has a rotary steering, it's not actually a handlebar. Carl von Drais's grotesque contraption, inspired by the Count of Sivrac's invention, was propelled by the foot, and since the chain of transmission had not yet been invented, its appearance on the streets of Paris in the mid-nineteenth century caused curiosity and a certain amount of attention and scandal.

Not everyone dares to ride a bike like this, but a Parisian worker named J. Lallement dared to bravely ride the Hulk through the streets of Paris because the first cyclist in history was caught by those who did not get off his new auto. He hesitated to throw stones at her. In addition, the police later arrested him in a public scandal.

However, Von Drais's old car was equipped with a steering system called a laufmascine, or treadmill. Two years later, Dennis Johnson was in London producing for the city's Playboys. The main user of it is the Regent, which goes by the name Playboy Horse or Hobby Horse. But of course the invention is not perfect.

bicycle evolution

old bike

As we mentioned at the beginning, the bicycle has not stopped improving or evolving since its invention, until reaching the way we know it today. We learn about them in detail:

In 1839, Scot Kirkpatrick Macmillan produced the first steerable bicycle. For the first time it was possible to ride a bicycle without the cyclist's feet pushing it directly, but through the pedals; handlebars have been around since 1817.

That bike is peculiar because it has two wooden wheels and a metal rim. The main wheel is thirty inches in diameter and the other forty inches. In 1861, French blacksmith Pierre Michaux thought of adding pedals to the Draisian's front wheel. He is recognized as one of the pioneers of cycling, but again, Philip Moritx or Galloux have the merits of him.

Michaux's invention was called "Michaulina" and went into mass production, making it very popular in France. The pedals are on the front wheel, which is made of wood, and the metal straps are in contact with the ground. This bike is perfect. The first to have a chain drive was made by James Slater in 1864; six years later, James Staley provided wire spokes for the wheels. In 1874, Staley invented the women's bicycle.

Evolution of the modern bicycle

evolution of the bicycle

Kemp is the father of the bicycle industry, in 1885 he created the Rover bicycle, which it was fast, comfortable, easy to handle, and much better than his Uncle James's. It's already a modern bike, with two wheels of the same size, chain and gear drive, pedals, cranks, diamond frame and direct drive diagonal fork.

With the invention of the pneumatic tire in 1888, the bicycle would become a powerful branch of the sports industry and provide a safe product, and its rise led to the bicycle being declared an Olympic sport at the first modern Olympic Games in 1896.

A lot of research has gone into how to improve and develop bikes. The most effective method known is to convert human effort into power. Most of the changes seem trivial and usually benefit a specific type of bike, like mountain bike shocks or racing handlebars.

Little effort has been made to redesign bicycles in any meaningful way. One such effort was the "Moulton Bicycle," which not only had smaller wheels (reducing drag), but also redesigned how the chassis worked.

Harry Bickerton's folding bike it was an attempt to create a bike that could be easily folded and carried by the handlebars. There are also bicycles WO 97/29008, a "pedal-powered sailboat", and US 5342074, a two-person bicycle with an attached frame.

Another new idea probably dates back to 1901 with US patent 690733 by Harold Jarvis (a cycling bicycle), who attempted to redesign the whole concept by placing the rider in a lying position instead of sitting upright. These models are appearing more and more on the streets.

The recumbent bicycle was invented by Richard Forrestal, Wilmington, and David Gordon Wilson for Fomac Inc in Wilmington, Massachusetts, USA. Filed December 26 and published as WO 81/01821 and US 4283070. The reason there is no handlebar is that the patent is being able to adjust the seat closer or further from the pedals to accommodate people of different heights.

The patent provides many reasons why this design is superior to a standard bicycle. Mainly rider comfort, back support on long rides and safety. The lower center of gravity and rider position mean the rider can brake more easily in any type of collision; you are less likely to be fired; you can hold on better with your feet, which will bear the brunt of the collision, not your head or body.

Also, since the pedals are taller and less likely to scrape the ground, it's easier to make tight turns and (strangely enough) easier for cyclists to communicate with car drivers.

No higher speeds claimed. Perhaps the biggest drawback is its awkward appearance and the risk of traveling upside down. There are three types of recumbent bikes:

  • Long Wheelbase Recumbent Bike
  • Short Base Recumbent Bike
  • Recumbent bikes with pedals in front of the front wheel instead of behind.

I hope that with this information you can learn more about the origin and evolution of the bicycle over the years.


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