The document summarizes the history and evolution of the bicycle from its origins in the late 18th century to modern times. It traces key developments like the addition of pedals, steering mechanisms, chain drives, and gears. It discusses how materials and manufacturing methods advanced from wood to metal. The summary also outlines how bicycles grew in popularity through the 19th-20th centuries, being adopted first by wealthy individuals and later the masses, and how they impacted society through effects on transportation, gender roles, and the environment.

1. By: Assunta De Pau and Matt Owens
T-202
7th period

2. What is a bicycle?
A bicycle is a two wheeled vehicle that is
moved with pedals, which are attached to the
wheels with a gear and chain. You steer
the bike with handlebars.

3. Timeline of the Bicycle
o 1790-Comte Mede de Sivrac
(France)
• First contraption to resemble a bike
• No pedals or steering
• Called a Celerifere, it was a wooden
scooter-like vehicle
o 1816-Baron Karl von Drais de
Sauerbrun (Germany)
• Steering mechanism was added to the
celerifere
• This new vehicle is called a
Draisienne
http://bicycling.about.com/od/thebikelife/ss/History.htm
http://daddytypes.com/archive/draisien.gif

4. Timeline (Continued)
o 1839-Kirkpatrick Macmillan (Scotland)
• The bike is now propelled by pedals and rods that
alternate moving to propel the bike(almost like a train)
• This bicycle weighed 57 pounds!!
• The frame was wooden and the wood wheels had iron
rims
http://bicycling.about.com/od/thebikelif
e/ss/History_2.htm

5. Timeline (Continued)
o 1858-1863- Pierre and Ernest Michaux
(France)
• New bicycle was called a Velocipede or “Bone Shaker”
• Had a larger front wheel because people believed a larger
wheel would allow you to move faster
• This velocipede had cranks and pedals that propelled it
like a tricycle
o 1868-Pierre Lallement (France)
• Took Pierre and Ernest’s idea to the United States
• Received a patent for this new bicycle
• The bike had a stiff iron frame and wooden wheels with an
iron rim

6. http://www.rcommunitybikes.net/rcbimages/cyc_boneshaker.jpg
http://bicycling.about.com/od/thebikelife/ss/History_3.htm
Velocipede

7. Timeline (Continued)
o 1869-Eugene Meyer
(France)
• Wire wheels with spokes
o 1870-1876
• Bikes made entirely out of
metal
• Now using solid rubber
tires and long spokes for
the front wheel
• The “High Wheeler” is a
new bike in the US and
Europe
http://bicycling.about.com/od/thebikelife/ss/History_4.htm
http://www.pedalinghistory.com/P
Hhistory.html

8. Timeline (Continued)
o 1885-John Kemp Starley (England)
• He creates a basic design for a bicycle
• The design includes…
○ 2 wheels of the same size
○ Sprocket and chain system
○ Inflated rubber tires
http://bicycling.about.com/od/thebikelife/ss/History_5.htm

9. Timeline (Continued)
o 1889
• Pneumatic rubber tire is created
o 1890
• Mass production of the “Safety Bicycle”
o 1894
• Bamboo bicycles are manufactured
o 1895-Ignatz Schwinn and Adolph Arnold
• They formed the “Arnold, Schwinn & Company”
• Started producing bicycles http://www.ibike.org/library/history-timeline.htm
http://www.pedalinghistory.com/PHhistory.html

10. Timeline (Continued)
o 1920
• Kids bikes are created after WWI
o 1950-1970
• English 3-speed bicycle
o 1970
• 10-speed derailleur bikes
o 1977-Joe Breeze, Otis Guy, Gary
Fisher, and Craig Mitchell
(California)
• Mountain bike prototype is created
http://www.pedalinghistory.com/PHhistory.html
http://www.gasolinealleyantiques.com/kits/images/Motorcycle/
mpc-schwinn.JPG

11. Timeline (Continued)
o 20??(future)
• New bicycle may come out
• Features include:
○ Battery assisted motor
○ Run by solar panels
○ Plays music
○ Puncture proof self inflating tires
○ Mini-computer to show calories
burned, etc.
• Cost:
○ If sold right now it would cost
around $771,350
○ If sold after being mass produced
cost would be around $3,085
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/
6010317/Intelligent-bicycle-of-the-future-
unveiled.html

12. How was the bike made?
 The original bicycle was made by hand,
using wooden parts
 As time passed improvements were made
because society was evolving and
becoming more technologically advanced
 New methods and materials were used
because it made the bike cheaper and
easier to manufacture

13. Major Improvements
 1816- Steering
 1863- Pedals added
 1870- The first all metal bike is
manufactured
 1879- Chain-driven bike is patented
 1890- Gears added to bicycles
 1894- Bikes made lighter by using
bamboo
 1984- More complex gears allow bikes to
have up to 24 speeds
 2002- 30 speed gears

14. Who uses the bike?
 1817- Everyday people begin to use bikes
 1863- Bikes become popular once more, mostly in
cities
 1870- The high wheeler become popular with wealthier
people because of its expensive metal frame
 1890- The cheaper safety bike allows common people
to take up biking
 1894- The first bike messengers are employed due to a
railway strike which stopped mail delivery
 1920- The kids bike is introduced, greatly expanding
the biking community
 1958-1978- Bicycle boom

15. Bicycle Boom
 1958- Women first race in the World
Championships
 1962- People begin using bikes for
recreation and fitness
 1970- Bicycles become popular modes
of transportation due to awareness of
pollution, especially around college
campuses
 1973-1978- Rising gas prices cause
people to use bikes as transportation

16. Effects on Society
 Walking and horses were replaced by the
use of the bicycle as personal transportation
 The bicycle created a faster paced society
 Bikes helped enforce the concept of gender
equality because bike manufacturers began
marketing to women
 Women’s clothing styles continued to evolve
to accommodate lifestyle changes due to the
growing popularity of bicycles among women
 Due to their maneuverability the military
incorporated the bicycle into their operations

17. Effects on Environment
 When bicycles were first invented there
was not much impact on the
environment because bicycles do not
give off pollution
 In the 1970’s pollution became a
growing issue and bicycles became
more popular
 Bicycles are used as an alternative
today because of expensive gas prices
and environmental concerns

18. Works Cited
 Advameg, Inc. , . (2010). Bicycle. Retrieved from http://www.madehow.com/Volume-2/Bicycle.html
 EnchantedLearning.com, Initials. (2010). Invention of the bicycle. Retrieved from
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/inventors/page/b/bicycle.shtml
 Ewen-Campen, B. (2003, October 3). The Modernizing effects of the bicycle. Retrieved from
http://fubini.swarthmore.edu/~ENVS2/S2003/Bewenca1/Ben_Third_Essay.htm
 Exploratorium, . (n.d.). Science of cycling: timeline. Retrieved from
http://www.exploratorium.edu/cycling/timeline.html
 Fiedler, D. (2010). Bikes: an illustrated history. Retrieved from
http://bicycling.about.com/od/thebikelife/ss/History.htm
 Mozer, D. (2010). Bicycle history timeline. Retrieved from http://www.ibike.org/library/history-timeline.htm
 Otto, S. (2009, August 12). 'intelligent' bicycle of the future unveiled. Retrieved from
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/6010317/Intelligent-bicycle-of-the-future-unveiled.html
 Ratnikas, A. (2010). Timelines-bicycle. Retrieved from
http://timelinesdb.com/listevents.php?subjid=210&dayinhist=0&date1=-
99999999999&date2=99999999999&words=&title=Bicycle&fromrec=0