Bicycles - Your First Vehicle

By: Michael Russell
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:25:38
Print this article | Tell a friend | For publisher | Social Bookmarking
Rating:
 

Most of us got one when we were kids. Five years old seems about the age when kids are ready for their first ride. Getting your first bike is really a time of excitement. Most kids probably had training wheels on their first bike, these were used to keep the bike from falling down, while the kid was still on it. That was the trick with the bicycle, before you could learn to ride, you had to learn how to not fall off the seat. Once you learned how to ride, having your bike became a very liberating experience. It was probably your first taste of independence; you could just get on your bike and ride without needing help.

The bicycle has to be listed as one of the greatest inventions ever. No single person has been given credit for that, but some of the earliest forms of bikes date back to the early 1800s. Karl Drais invented something called the dandy-horse in 1817. His creation didn't have any pedals, so you had to push it with your feet. In the 1860s, Frenchmen Michaux and Lallement created the pedal. This new version of the bike with pedals was called the boneshaker. James Starley improved on the boneshaker and in 1885, he released his version of the bicycle, it was called the rover. The rover was considered the first modern type bicycle.

Bicycles have gradually evolved into a great form of transportation. They were very popular, but times change. The car became more affordable and people were choosing a car ride over a bike ride. Bicycle sales started to go down. By the 1940s, the bicycle, which started out as an adult form of transportation, was now being viewed as a toy for kids. The bicycle fell on hard times until the 1960s when people had a renewed interest in their health and in the environment. Bicycle sales in the US really went up after the oil crisis in 1973. In the years to follow, we began to see more innovations with the bike; these included higher performing bikes and gears that went from 3 up to 18 speeds.

The bicycle has not only survived, but it has done as great job of adapting through time. It started out as being primarily for adult use and then it was reduced to a toy for kids and today the bike has the best of all worlds. Kids still love getting their first bikes. Bicycles are still used as a mode of transportation, especially on college campuses. And adults realize that riding a bike is a good way to stay in shape. Plus, sport has created a whole new use for bicycles. There is something called extreme sports where some of the competition requires using a bicycle to do airborne tricks. This sport alone, has created massive exposure and added sales for the bicycle industry.

The bicycle has created its own niche in the world and has been able to fit into so many different cultures. Unlike a lot of past inventions, the bicycle is just as vital today as it was when it was created.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Bicycles

Article source: Expert Articles

Most Recent Articles in Cycling category

  • Family Cycling Holidays in France - By: Martyn Davis
    Whether you are looking for a guided leisure cycling holiday in France or a sport cycling holiday, these can all be catered for in the incredibly beautiful countryside around France.
  • Mountain Biking Essentials - By: Jennifer Bynum
    As the old adage goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” And if you’re going on a lengthy bike ride, that makes a lot of sense. To keep yourself comfortable and safe – and avoid getting caught in any frustrating situations – it’s important to be prepared before you set out.
  • Major Advantages Of Road Bikes - By: Andrew Caxton
    The oldest and most popular form of bikes is the Road Bike. These have been an eye-catcher for people since decades and one can easily find several deals on the internet to buy Vintage Road Bikes. These bikes are popular as they are light weight and have been designed specifically to ride on smooth roads.
  • Basic Features Of Bicycle Wheels - By: Andrew Caxton
    There is no better way to spend a weekend than to go on a leisurely ride on a bicycle on a quiet track in the woods. Bicycles have an old world charm about them and even in this fast-paced world has its own prominent place. Of all the parts of the bicycle, it is the bicycle wheels which are the most important ones.
  • The Necessities Of The Lowrider Bikes - By: Andrew Caxton
    The low rider bike provides an enhanced low profile. The ride along a country side is well suited on your low rider bike only. The experience of a low and slow bike riding could be witnessed in here.
  • Cross Country Touring - By: Alex Landels
    A bike is a wonderfully elegant creation-true technological genius.A well-made bike can take you thousands of trouble-free miles. When it does break down, even the most mechanically challenged can repair it.
  • Competition Bikes Are Designed For Aerodynamic Competence - By: Tim Gorman
    If you are a bicycle enthusiast and you like to watch or participate in bike racing then this article is for you! Here are various biking tidbits along with some basic information and specifications that you might need.Racing Bike ConstructionA competition bicycle is constructed with light aluminum and dual carbon fiber chain and seat stays.
  • Saddle Posture And Selection Are Very Important For Cycling - By: George Wood
    Saddle posture and selection are two important riding needs. The chances of minimized saddle sores and reduced crotch pressure can be obtained by choosing the right saddle and the right posture. Saddle selection depends on your riding technique, but still, there is no saddle posture that fits all.
  • Things To Remember While Buying a Bicycle Wheel - By: Andrew Caxton
    Most Important Part Of a Bicycle The first thing that comes to mind on thinking about bicycles is the wheel. Bicycles are actually the simplest vehicle to run on a pair of wheels. To think about it.
  • If You Are Serious About Cycling You Need The Proper Shoes - By: Gregg Hall
    When you start running, you get running shoes, right? And when you play basketball you wear basketball shoes. Golfers wear golf shoes, and tennis players wear tennis shoes.