Bikes – More to Them Then You Think
By: Aazdak Alisimo | Posted: 03rd April 2008
Curious about the origin of that two wheeled machine we call a bicycle? Here are some bike facts that will have you laughing, scratching your head, and wondering in amazement.
Although the first bicycle ever, truly, invented can be traced back to Baron Karl de Drais of Germany during the year 1818, many people tried to invent something similar since the Baron's reign. A man named Kirkpatrick Macmillan devised a contraption similar to a bicycle that had wheels made of iron and cranks for pedals ... needless to say, this was not a huge success. Still, many believed that Macmillan had an interesting idea, which prompted others to try and invent something unique as well. From the time Macmillan created his iron clad bicycle, the bike facts just keep on getting stranger as time marches on.
"The Boneshaker" (sounds scary, doesn't it?) was created during the late 1800s, and this invention nearly broke the scales at 160 lbs. Still, the weight of this machine did not deter people from wishing to ride it, thus the bicycle became extremely popular and there were many boneshaker bicycle events held throughout the world. Not so impressed with this rattling machine, James Starley of England developed another bicycled called the "penny-farthing" that became even more popular than the boneshaker (perhaps people were drawn to the less frightening name).
Of all the wacky and loopy bike facts out there, this one is rather tame (though interesting): the overall design of the bicycle has not really changed since the 1890s. Of course, different bikes have been created for different purposes (mountain, road, hybrid), but the concept of a frame with two wheels (that are not made of iron) has stayed the same. Why is it that we love the bicycle so much? Well, no one is really sure, though there are around 20 million bicycles owned throughout the nation today.
For most of us, the bicycle is a cherished part of our childhood, though none of this could have been possible without the Baron Karl de Drais. From the boneshaker to the penny-farthing and to the cleverly crafted mountain bicycles of today, this is one oddly shaped invention that has captivated our hearts and souls for hundreds of years.
Whether you enjoy racing them, or merely admiring their history, bicycles are the embodiment of all that is pure and good in the world. These bike facts may seem slightly peculiar, though they will give you something to think about during your next long ride.
Aazdak Alisimo writes about bike shops for BikeShopsUSA.com.
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Tags: stranger, amazement, contraption, invention, bicycles, scales, bikes, cranks, late 1800s, two wheels, 1890s, time marches on, hybrid