Bicycles have a long history of development, and in light of rising fuel costs, people are turning back to bicycles as a solution that is both economical and environmentally friendly, as well as a method for physical exercise.
To become the complete mode of transportation we know today, bicycles have undergone a long history of development with numerous improvements by various inventors. Let’s take a look back at some significant milestones in the history of bicycles.
1817: Drais’ Walking Machine – The Birth of the Bicycle
The first concept of a bicycle emerged in the early 19th century. The German Baron, Karl Drais, conceived an invention of a human-powered vehicle that could help him move quickly around his family estate. In 1817, he unveiled a “walking” machine called the Laufmaschine (which means “running machine” in German). During its first use on June 12, 1817, he traveled a distance of 13 kilometers in just about an hour.
Draisine bicycle model stored in the two-wheeled vehicle museum in Germany
The Laufmaschine is also known as the Draisine (in English) or draisienne (in French) or Hobby Horse because it was constructed almost entirely of wood. The bicycle weighed 22 kilograms and consisted of two equally sized wooden wheels fitted with iron rims, aligned on a wooden frame. The front wheel was steerable, and the rear wheel was equipped with a brake. The vehicle was operated by the rider pushing their feet backward against the ground to move it forward.
He was granted a commercial patent for this invention in 1818. Thousands of units were produced, primarily in Western Europe and North America, but they had a significant drawback: they were very difficult to balance while riding. Drais’ invention quickly fell out of favor due to the increasing number of accidents, leading some city governments to ban the use of this vehicle.
1860s: The Introduction of Pedals and the Boneshaker or Velocipede
Boneshaker bicycle in Europe circa 1868
The next development in bicycles was a model similar to Drais’ Laufmaschine but equipped with a crank and pedals directly attached to the front wheel axle. This model was introduced by French inventor Pierre Michaux in the mid-1860s and was called Fast-Foot, sparking a fashion craze among people eager to own one. At that time, it was also humorously referred to as the Boneshaker. The amusing name Boneshaker stemmed from the fact that the wooden wheels, combined with metal rims, made riding on rough roads extremely uncomfortable, shaking the rider as if they were “shaking their bones”. Due to this reason, the Boneshaker was not widely popular at the time.
1870s: The High Wheel Bicycle
The advancements in metallurgy allowed for the creation of small, delicate yet sturdy metal parts. In 1870, the first all-metal bicycle was invented by two bicycle manufacturers, James Starley and William Hillman. This bicycle was named “Ariel”, featuring a large front wheel and a small rear wheel.
Ariel bicycle from 1870 featuring a large front wheel and a small rear wheel.
With a lightweight frame, the Ariel could travel at speeds of 24 km/h, a record for bicycles at the time. Similar to the Boneshaker, the pedals were still directly attached to the front wheel axle with no gearing mechanism. The tires were made of hard rubber and solid, combined with long, thin spokes, allowing the bicycle to move much smoother than earlier models.
Due to the demand for a bicycle design for women, in 1876, James Starley invented a three-wheeled bicycle called Salvo. This was the first bicycle equipped with a chain connecting the double sprocket wheels, allowing the wheel to turn twice when the rider pedaled once. Both wheels were equipped with metal spokes. This model later became very popular due to its low cost, ease of handling, and safe operation.
James Starley (third from the right) with the Salvo bicycle in a photo taken in 1877. He invented the chain mechanism connecting the two sprockets on bicycles. He is known as the father of the bicycle manufacturing industry.
In 1878, two English bicycle manufacturers, Otto and Wallace, invented a two-wheeled bicycle called the Kangaroo. This was the first widely popular bicycle equipped with a complete chain-and-sprocket system. The Kangaroo featured a much larger front wheel than the rear wheel, allowing it to travel faster. Manufacturers noted that the larger the wheel, the further the bicycle would go with each pedal stroke. This led to a trend where manufacturers produced bicycles with increasingly larger front wheels. Buyers would have to choose a bicycle with a front wheel size that suited their leg length to ensure they could ride it. This was also the first time the term Bicycle was used to refer to a human-powered two-wheeled vehicle “pedal and run.”
Kangaroo bicycle by Otto and Wallace in 1878
The biggest drawback of bicycles during this period was that the rider’s seat was too high, resulting in an uneven weight distribution on the bike. If the front wheel hit a stone or traveled down a slope, the entire bicycle would tip forward while the rider’s feet got stuck on the pedals, and the high position made it very easy to sustain severe injuries, particularly head injuries.
In 1879, Bayliss Thomas invented the bicycle “The Bayliss Thomas” with a frame made of hollow steel tubes and equipped with a front fork. Around the same time, British inventor Harry John Lawson created the first bicycle to use a chain. The chain connected the sprocket on the rear wheel to the rider’s pedals. This model was called the safety bicycle, which is the precursor to modern bicycles.
Image of the safety bicycle created in 1879 by Lawson. The safety bicycle used a chain to connect the sprocket on the rear wheel to the rider’s pedals. This was the first complete chain-and-sprocket system on a bicycle.
By 1874 and into 1878, the first mass-produced bicycles were manufactured in the United States by the Pope company owned by Albert Augustus Pope.
1880 – 1899: The Golden Era
In 1880, British inventor E.C.F. Otto created the “dicycle” model, with two equally sized wheels placed parallel to each other. The rider sat between the two wheels and operated the bicycle with pedals on either side. To steer left or right, the rider would stop pedaling on the side corresponding to the direction they wanted to turn. This model was not mass-produced due to its complexity and the difficulties in handling it.
Bicycle model by E.C.F. Otto in 1880
In 1885, John Kemp Starley, the nephew of inventor James Starley, created a safety bicycle featuring two equally sized wheels aligned on a hollow metal frame. This bicycle was equipped with essential components such as brakes and a chain-and-sprocket system. It served as the prototype for the modern bicycle. About 2 to 3 years later, this model went into mass production and became widely popular.
The Rover bicycle invented by John Kemp Starley (nephew of James Starley) in 1885.
In 1888, Scottish inventor John Dunlop developed the pneumatic tire for bicycles. This tire allowed bicycles to operate more smoothly and comfortably on rough roads, overcoming the limitations of solid rubber tires. Subsequently, a frame design known as the “diamond” type was introduced, which provided better strength. The combination of the pneumatic tire and the “diamond” frame design resulted in a lightweight bicycle that operated more smoothly and efficiently. Additionally, these innovations made maintenance and repairs much easier.
John Dunlop (1840 -1921), inventor of the pneumatic tire. He founded the renowned Dunlop company, which specializes in tire and sports equipment manufacturing.
With key features such as easy handling, safety, comfort, and speed, bicycles became a popular mode of transportation among the middle and upper classes in Europe and North America in the late 1890s. The bicycle model with rubber tires and equal-sized wheels mounted on a “diamond” frame was the first design that could be conveniently used by both men and women. This period marked a golden age in the history of bicycle development, with numerous improvements contributing to the modern bicycle model we know today.
From the 20th Century to Present…
Bicycles increasingly became an important mode of transportation in Europe during the first half of the 20th century, but their use significantly declined in the United States from 1900 to 1910 due to the advent of the automobile. By the 1920s, bicycles gradually turned into children’s toys, and by 1940, most bicycles in America were manufactured for kids. However, in Europe, bicycles continued to be widely used.
Throughout the first half of the 20th century, bicycles continued to evolve to meet the diverse needs of consumers. A multi-gear system that could be switched while riding was developed in France from 1900 to 1910 and gradually improved over time. In 1930, the European Cycling Organization allowed riders to use this system. Previously, if a rider wanted to change gears during a race, they had to stop, remove the wheel to change the desired gear, and reinstall it. This was extremely time-consuming. This system allowed riders to save significant time when adjusting their bicycle’s speed.
The multi-gear system that can be switched while riding
Around the mid-20th century, various other bicycle components continued to be developed and refined, such as handbrakes, lighter pedals, dynamo-powered lights mounted on wheels, and narrower tires designed to reduce friction, allowing bicycles to move more smoothly and effortlessly. These bicycles became very popular in Europe, especially in England, during the 1950s and continued to improve throughout the remaining decades of the 20th century. Bicycling gradually became a popular hobby for many people.
Since the beginning of the 21st century, bicycles have undergone significant improvements with advancements in technology. In design, frames are now made from various materials to reduce weight while ensuring durability and aerodynamic requirements. The balance of bicycles is calculated and simulated using computer software, allowing for the manufacturing of safer bicycles for riders. New technologies such as carbon fiber components and electronic gear-shifting systems have made bicycles increasingly modern. Up to the present, bicycles continue to be refined in parallel with advancements in science and technology to meet the ever-growing demands of users.
BMW’s sports bicycle model launched in 2012
The “evolution” of bicycles over more than 300 years
