When was bicycle introduced

They all had the basic diamond shape made from metal, pneumatic rubber tires, roller chain, one gear, coaster brakes and more. Golden Age of Bicycles lasted from s to s in which bicycles became one of the primary means of public road transportation.

Early bicycle clubs popularized recreational driving across America and Europe. During the years their manufacturing costs came down significantly, which increased their use all over the world.

Modern age of bicycles started in the s and 70s with the increase of North American consciousness of the benefits of exercise and energy efficient transport. In , over 17 million riders started driving a new sort of much lighter and cheaper bikes. Since then racing bikes , mountain bikes and BMX became the standard for the bicycle drivers all around the world, with recent addition of hybrid commuter bikes specialized for city use with wide range of equipment taken from mountain and speed bicycles.

By , Annie Londonderry became the first woman to do so. In , the bicycle got a major upgrade with the advent of pneumatic rubber tires—something that seems simple, but would have shed pounds from bikes and made them much more comfortable to ride. Less bone-shaking, more grace on cobblestones. By the s, companies had started mass producing bicycles on a much larger scale. By the end of the century, more than a million bikes were in use in the U.

While this original bicycle boom did eventually hit a decline in the early 20th century as automobiles became more popular, the cycling industry owes a huge debt to the men and women who helped shape the bicycle into what it is today, going from a weird scooter with wooden wheels to a bike that liberated an entire gender and opened up new ways for people to be entertained, get outside, and travel between cities and states.

Bikes and Gear. United States. Type keyword s to search. Today's Top Stories. Are Wider Tires Always Faster? Print Collector Getty Images.

Who invented the bicycle? Alessandra Benedetti - Corbis Getty Images. Related Story. A picture taken on June 22, shows old bicycles at the museum of the bicycle and the motorcycle in Domazan, southern France. At first, bicycles were a relatively expensive hobby, but mass production made the bicycle a practical investment for the working man, who could then ride to his job and back home.

The bicycle introduced thousands to individual and independent transportation, and provided greater flexibility in leisure. As women started riding in great numbers, dramatic changes in ladies' fashion were required. Bustles and corsets were out; bloomers were in, as they gave a woman more mobility while allowing her to keep her legs covered with long skirts.

Bicycles were also partly responsible for better road conditions. As more Americans began to ride bicycles, which needed a smoother road surface than a horse-drawn vehicle, organizations of bicyclists started calling for better roads.

They were often joined by railroad companies that wanted to improve the connections between farmers and other businesses and the rail station. The bicycle had a direct influence on the introduction of the automobile, according to the NMAH. Bicycle parts were later incorporated into automobile parts, including ball bearings, differential units, steel tubing and pneumatic tires. Many pioneer automobile builders were first bicycle manufacturers, including Charles Duryea, Alexander Winton and Albert A.

Also, Wilbur and Orville Wright were bicycle makers before turning their attention to aerodynamics. Glenn Curtiss, another aviation pioneer, also started out as a bicycle manufacturer. As automobiles rose in popularity, though, interest in bicycles waned. Also, electric railways took over the side paths originally constructed for bicycle use, according to the NMAH. The number of manufacturers shrank in the early s, and for more than 50 years, the bicycle was used largely only by children.

A reawakening of adult interest occurred during the late s as many people began to see cycling as a non-polluting, non-congesting means of transportation and recreation. In , nearly 5 million bicycles were manufactured in the United States, and an estimated 75 million riders shared 50 million bicycles, making cycling the nation's leading outdoor recreation, according to the NMAH.

Over million bicycles are manufactured each year, according to BicycleHistory. A person walking into a bicycle store today is faced with countless options. Frames are designed and made from different materials based on where the bicycle might be ridden. Riders can choose different the type of brakes, number of gears, shape of the seat, position and bend of the handlebars, and whether to have suspension or not.

There are options for riding bicycles on many surfaces from rough, dirt and rock mountain roads to smooth, paved city roads. Wheels come in a variety of sizes and thicknesses for riding on each of these surfaces while frames are typically made of steel, aluminum, titanium, or carbon fiber, and occasionally even out of materials such as bamboo. Bicycles can have anywhere from one to 33 gears.