Bicycles

The bicycle has been in people's lives for so long that there is no question about its origin. To understand the history of the bicycle, go back to July 15, 1815, when Mount Tambora erupted in Indonesia. Because of the massive amount of debris in the atmosphere, this discharge caused the "Year Without a Summer" in 1816. It lowered global temperatures by up to five degrees.

Crops withered and people went hungry during the Year Without a Summer. This had a significant impact on horses all over Europe. The horse was the primary mode of transportation back then. Unfortunately, many died of starvation, while others were devoured by their masters. This prompted Baron Karl Von Drais to create his running machine, a precursor to the bicycle that did not have pedals. It could be used instead of horses to transport people, and it would never go hungry.

Since the first chain-driven model was developed around 1885, the basic shape and configuration of a typical upright or "safety bicycle" has changed little. Many details, however, have been improved, particularly since the introduction of modern materials and computer-aided design. This has resulted in a proliferation of specialized designs for various types of cycling.

Creator: Karl von Drais, Kirkpatrick MacMillan

Introduced: 19th century