Bike in Europe – History, Tradition, Usage
We all know that the magical transport vehicle on two wheels which saves the environment from pollution is called bike, however not many of us know the history lying behind it, where this invention was born and so on and so forth.
It all started in Europe, in the remote 19th century when the first archetype of the bicycle appeared and that was the German draisine. This is a dandy horse, the first means of transport invented. It had two wheels in one line and was moved by the rider’s pushing with feet being at the ground, pushed as in regular walking. This miracle was first invented and patented in the beginning of 1818.
Bikes are means of transport of rich tradition of over 2 centuries by the time of which there were great changes underdone in their development.
So, we stopped at the very beginning, in 1818 to be more precise. The tradition of using this two-wheeled miracle goes further on, for the period from 1829 to about 1850 is a period of great changes in the structure of the first vehicles using solely human power to function. The 1820s was a period of inventing something new which would have the purpose of a draisine yet it would enable the rider to maintain the balance easily by adding one more wheel to this construction (a tricycle) and also additional two wheels in some models.
The 1830s were also significant for changes since bikes were concerned and it all happened on European soil. The first mechanically propelled miracle on two wheels was invented in the 1830s in Scotland by the blacksmith Kirkpatric MacMillan, in 1839. This newest device was the first to be associated with an accident and even an offence. Namely, an anonymous individual from Glasgow riding a velocipede of the kind, hit a pedestrian and paid 5 shillings fine for that.
The first bike that has noticed real success at the market is the model that made the 60s most renowned in transportation industry. The model is called Michaux and it is of a French origin which was the first to use rotating pedals which made the ride faster and much easier. It became also very famous in England and they called it a boneshaker because of the bone-shaking experience you will have when riding it.
Until the 1880s the history of bikes went on in pretty much the same way and in 1880 a new model has appeared with one wheel notably higher than the other which was thought to develop higher speed. Eugene Meyer is in charge of this discovery.
Since the mid 80s and the 90s come to question, it is not the size of the vehicle which is important nor is the number of wheels, but more compact size that will give much safety. The models from this period look like those the 20th century had to offer and were announcers of the kind of bikes we are riding today.
Riding a bike aside from a comfortable ride on small distances will give you a very healthy exercise which will be highly recommended from your doctor. With one rotating of the pedals you pass approximately 3 meters which means that riding a bike is a healthier and faster way to get somewhere apart from getting there on foot.
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