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The First Bike
The first bike, aka The Celerifere, didn't have any pedals and was invented by Comte Mede de Sivrac of France. While this bike looks highly uncomfortable, I'm sure it was, it was still a faster and better means of transportation than walking. The rider would sit down and push himself with his feet and coast when he got up to speed, the only problem was the earliest models didnt have a steering wheel. To turn the rider would have to "lean with it" or "rock with it." -
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From First to Last
http://youtu.be/zqAZVRJ4Wi4The history of the bicycle is a long and sometimes daunting one. Starting off as a wooden leviathon and rarely used, the bike has become an everyday part of life for most people. From using the bike originally as a means of transport to using a bike to make a living the design for the bike has not changed much but its importance has. -
Draisienne (The Hobby Horse"
German Baron Karl von Drais de Sauerbrun "piggy backed" on the previous model and added a steering mechanism. While this was an improvment from the original it still limited riders ability to ride where they wanted to. Due to the lack of propulsion riders had to stay on well kept roads or pathways or risk falling over/getting their clothes very dirty. -
PEDALS ARE ADDED!!
In 1839 the first bike with pedals was finally invented by a Scottish blacksmith. MacMillan single handedly revolutionized the way we ride bikes. His idea of adding gears and pedals to propel the bike is the cornerstone for every bike we ride today as well as for the future. (the UCI is very strict on not changing the design of bikes) -
First U.S. Bike Patent
Pierre Lallement filed for the first bike patent in the United States for the vélocipède. The Velocipede, the boneshaker, was known for its rough ride and mysterious beginnings. (It was made of steel with wooden wheels and who exactly invented it is still a mystery.) While the design was popular it could still use improvements and with the inventions of new metal works the design evolved and got better. -
First Recorded Bike Race
The first recorded bike race was only 1.2km long while most today are over 120 miles long and one, the Paris Roubaix, is over 300km long. There are three grand tours with each consisting of 23 days of racing (21 days raced with 2 rest days for massages and recovery rides) and covering over 2000 miles. -
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The Next Big Thing
The next big thing for the bike was an actual big thing. The front wheel went from being a typical 30-40 inches to being taller than a woman. The Penny Farthing was invented. A big wheel bike, invented by Eugene Meyer, the Penny Farthing was dangerous because of its wheel height. Its brakes were for show and the term "breakneck speed" comes from the bikes dangers. If the rider hit a rut or a rock got caught in a spoke the rider was thrown forward and usually broke his neck. -
Safety in Mind
In 1885 John Kemp went back to the roots of the bicycle and using Da Vincis diamond design manufactured a safer bike for ordinary people to ride. John Kemp's bike used rubber tires and wheels, while still on a steel frame, to make the ride more enjoyable and comfortable. He moved the gears and chain to the back wheel and lowered the front wheel so riders sat "between the front and back wheel". This made the bike safer and increased the center of gravity. -
The Age of Aluminum
The first aluminum bike was built in the 1890's but bikes were not mass produced using aluminum until the 1990's. With the advancement in materials, bikes became lighter, stronger, and stiffer. With lighter bikes races became more interesting to watch, with stronger bikes the frames lasted longer, and with stiffer bikes the power transfer from rider to bike was more efficient. While aluminum bikes were better for racing steel bikes still owned the main stream market. -
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The Bike Sleeps
Between the period of 1900 to 2000 there were many small advances in the bicycle world. Clipless pedals were invented, shifters were put at the riders finger tips, and tubless tires were raced on. Disc wheels made bikes more aerodynamic, pedals the size of a powerade top made bikes turn faster, and devices to measure power output were all invented in this time period. While there were a lot of tools invented for the bike they were too small to make a significant impact. -
Quick release gets a Patent
Quick release levers and hubs were a miracle. While such a simple invention nothing has made changing a wheel during a race so fast. Simply put the lever just clamps the wheel in place versus having to carry a wrench and turn the nut off a bolt. Instead of a wheel change taking minutes they now take seconds. -
Parallelogram derailleur
Tullio Campagnolo invents the parallelogram derailleur. The parallelogram derailleur used cables to change the gears. Before this invention riders were limited to two gears and when the rider wanted to make the ride easier or harder he had to turn the back wheel around and reattach the chain. The derailleur could change to multiple chain rings and sprockets. -
Cino Cinelli produces clipless pedals
The M71 was one of the first clipless pedals to go mainstream. SImply put the rider would wear a special shoe and the bottom of the shoe would click into a device that held it in place. This improved power transfer and greatly increased the speeds of sprints. Long gone were the fears of riders feet slipping from the pedals. Unfortunatly this was a "new" technology and was still immature. The rider still had to reach down and pull a lever to become unattached from the pedal. -
Training Evolves
The commercialization of the powermeter was a blessing and a curse. While the device changed training dramatically by providing instant feedback to the rider on how much "power" he was producing. The high tech training tool came with a very high price. My first was 1200 dollars. When it broke a year later I was given the 2200 dollar model for being one of the first customers and "testing" them. -
Aluminum Mass
Mass production of Aluminum bikes begins making racing more interesting but also more dangerous. Bike racers could sprint to over 40mph. Only one more material would have a greater impact on the bicycle. -
The Rise of Carbon
http://youtu.be/sQ3M9ZbfQ7MThe rise of carbon fiber bikes began in the early 2000's. While carbon seat and chain stays were being used a full carbon bike wasn't seen until later. Carbon fiber did everything aluminum did but times 100 and while at first sprinters didn't like full carbon bikes (they bent) now all pros ride on full carbon bikes. Kestral was the first major carbon production company. -
The Latest Bike
Most Advanced The bike has advanced so far in design, popularity, and use it is almost unbelievable. From a wooden and iron "push along" to a carbon fiber missle designed by Mclaren the bike has gone from an obscure source of fun to, a blazing source of hope for those with terminal illnesses. Overall the bike can bring people together just like a football or a frisbee and I know the life of the bicycle is only going to get better with age.
