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 various 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 allowed you to sit astride and move forward by giving impulses with your feet. 

This invention was patented in 1818 under the name "velocipede", and was designed to enable rapid movement.