Bicycle history: The swallow
With the creation of this model, the modern bicycle was born, with 2 wheels of the same size, chain drive and removable air-filled tires. The bicycle was the first fast means of locomotion for policemen; the nickname "swallow" was given to them because of their [...].
The history of the bicycle: the kangaroo in 1884
It uses the same solutions as for the big twin, but with a smaller front wheel (for greater stability) and a chain drive (on the front wheel) to compensate for the loss of speed.
The history of the bicycle: Lawson's bicycle in 1880
This was the first bicycle to feature a chain drive from the crankset to the rear wheel. A kind of gear, larger at the front (the chainring) than at the rear (the pinion), turns the rear wheel faster than the pedals, enabling this type of machine to go fast even without a giant wheel.
The history of cycling: The big bi in 1870
To increase speed, the first thought was to increase the size of the front wheel. Thus was born the big two-wheeler. It was fitted with a very large front wheel, about 1.50 m in diameter, which made it possible to go faster. To get to the saddle, you had to be a real acrobat. It was dangerous [...]
Bicycle history: La Michaudine in 1861
In France, Pierre Michaux and his son Ernest, in 1861, had the idea of fitting pedal cranks to the hub of the front wheel. Thus, a simple but essential invention was born: the pedal on the front wheel. At a certain speed, the pedaling cadence became very fast, and to compensate for this, the [...]
History of the bicycle: The pedal-powered draisienne in 1839
The first real bicycle was invented around 1839 by Scottish blacksmith Kirkpatrick MacMillan. It consisted of an improved draisienne to which MacMillan had fitted an ingenious system of pedals. Unlike the draisienne, it was now possible to ride without the feet touching the ground. You put your feet on the pedals [...].
History of the bicycle: The draisienne in 1817
We invite you to discover the story behind the creation of the bicycle. Each week, you'll discover the different inventions that led to our modern bicycle. This week, we're talking about the draisienne, invented in 1817 by the German baron Karl von Drais! Made up of two wheels connected by a wooden crossbar, this machine was [...].