-
-
"Giovanni Fontana built the first human powered land vehicle -- it had four wheels and used an endless rope connected via gears to the wheels." (International Bicycle Fund)
-
"Sketches showing a primitive version of a bicycle, purported drawn by Leonardo da Vinci,"
-
Starving horses due to food shortage spur the need for another form of transportation. These are first two-wheel bikes and are like scooters in that rider pushes off and coasts. Built entirely of wood.
-
This might be lore, but legend has it in 1839 a Scottish blacksmith added pedels to the dandyhorse, an important innovations
-
Metal wheels over cobblestone made for 'bonehaking' for the rider
-
Highwheelers come into fashion--they're a more confortable ride but also difficult for the average person to manuvuer.
-
Than ride a 'trike'. These were for people who wanted to ride but needed to be decorus, i.e. for women and clergy.
-
Thomas Stevens is the first to make the 3,700 mile ride from coast to coast
-
Vet invents the tire we use today to allow his sickly son to have an easier ride. This tire makes rides more comfortable for all and this, paired with the decreasing costs of bicycle production, make bikes hugely popular.
-
-
Bloomer (first pants for women) increase in popularity due to biking and the need for more practical dress.. "Let me tell you what I think of bicycling. I think it has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world. I stand and rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a wheel. It gives woman a feeling of freedom and self-reliance." Susan B Anthony
-
Woman takes trips around the world (biking at least part way, thought it was covered in the news as a woman biking around the world). Big news!
-
Major Taylor beats everyone in sprint cycling
-
Bikes as a form of transportation begin a long decline as cars gaiin in popularity and more of the country is connected via train
-
-
Lots of new hardware and innovations from this company throughout the 1930s
-
-
Balina Ermolaeva becomes the first women's champ!
-
"Earth Day: Increased awareness of westerns civilization's level of consumption of natural resources, air pollution, and destruction of the natural environment. This generated a new spurt in the growth of bicycle sales and bicycling, especially around college campuses."
-
Bell Company produces ones of the first effective helmets (see picture)
-
More bikes than cars are sold this year
-
Women's road race included in the Olympics for the first time
-
Shimano (Japanese) introduces integrated brake/gear levers.
