With the advent of Lance Armstrong, bicycling has never been so popular. I’ve never seen so many amateur cyclists in spandex sailing past my house. Although not quite as old and time-honored as running or swimming, this endurance sport has a fascinating history all its own.

The bicycle was invented primarily as a mode of transportation in newly industrialized countries. Of course, the automobile rapidly replaced the bicycle as the primary transportation of Western cultures, but amazingly the bicycle remained. It became useful for transportation in cities, in the country, and for sports.

The Germans Were First

Sorry, but the French did not invent the modern bicycle. There were inventions upon which the French later improved.

The first documented two-wheeled machine was a sort of walking machine invented in 1817 by the German Baron von Drais. He modestly called the machine the Draisienne. The walking machine was mostly wood, had no pedals, but did include two inline wheels, the front of which was steer-able. You pushed your feet along the ground, propelling yourself into a kind of glide (about 7 miles/hr.).

While use of the Draisienne continued until the 1860's, it was little more than a fad of Segway-type proportions (no matter whose police department is purchasing the things). Working and middle class people could not afford these play-things of the rich.

Bone-shaking Changes

In 1865, a Scottish man by the name of Kirkpatrick MacMillan invented the velocipede or Boneshaker. A person could ride this contraption with both feet off the ground owing to the use of pedals attached to the front wheel. That is, if you wanted to risk your bottom by riding the thing through your hometown. The combination of its wooden wheels and old-fashioned street cobblestones did not make for comfortable cruising.

Interestingly, there are questions being raised about whether the velocipede ever actually existed.

The French Get Their Due

About 1861, the French carriage makers Pierre and Ernest Michaux invented the modern bicycle pedal and cranks. Contrary to popular belief, the father and son did not invent the bicycle. Legend has it that they came up with the design when a Draisienne was brought in for repairs.

Metal at Last

A few years later, someone had the bright idea to use metal, the tool of the industrialized age. Up until now, manufacturers used wood because metal working technology had not advanced far enough. For the first time, the crazy contraption was known as a ”bicycle,” for its two wheels. The front wheel size was increased to allow for greater distances relative to effort. Unfortunately, the metal bicycle did not have much impact on society because of its prohibitive expense. This new machine was popular with the rich young dandies of the day, being new and extremely expensive. It was the bicycle equivalent of a Lamborghini.

The Gay Nineties

Yep, there was more than one. In the 1890’s, an Irish veterinarian wished to make his son’s bicycle experience more comfortable on his, er, rear extremities. So Mr. Dunlop (name sound familiar?) applied a rubber pneumatic tire to the wheels of the bicycle, and history was made.

The bicycle had reached its height of popularity. Mass manufacturing techniques and decreasing costs of materials made the machine accessible to just about anyone. Ladies and gentlemen of all classes rode bicycles all about town.

The bicycle is supposed to have played an especially big role in the women's movement of the late 1800's and early 1900's. The modern style bicycle with its two equal sized wheels and rubber tires made it possible for women to ride it while still modestly concealing their legs and ankles beneath skirts. Clothing adapted to the bicycle, and women were encouraged not to wear corsets or bustles in order to avoid nasty accidents. The bicycle made it possible for women to have greater mobility, greater freedom.

Currently

The technology that has so changed the world of computers, cars, and airplanes did not leave the bicycle behind. Bikes are streamlined and created for all sizes. Today, the world’s most technologically advanced bicycles weigh 6 pounds. The bikes used in the first Tour de France in the early 1900’s weighed a whopping 30 pounds!

And don’t think the bicycle has been entirely replaced by the automobile. Many adults choose bicycles for their cheapness (no gas, no parking fees), and the maneuverability (streets in European cities have not changed so much in the past 200 years). A fair number of college students rely on their bikes to get them from class to class.

Children became a huge market for bicycles with the Baby Boom generation after WWII. They continue to be a popular group fro bicycles. Children cannot have cars, so they speed around their neighborhoods on bikes.

Bicycling is also excellent exercise. It works the cardiovascular system and leg muscles without the joint jarring impact of other activities (running, high-impact aerobics). In a society increasingly…well, increasing, the bicycle could have a crucial role yet to play.