May 16, 2018

We love to talk about how useful is going around Barcelona by bicycle, but, what do de know about this incredible and, at the same time, simple means of transport? Here you will find some interesant notes about its history.

Photo by Oberholster Venita

There are many different histories of the bicycle. One source claims that it has a history that goes back about 600 years and is quite different than the bike as we know today. Another day we will speak about the source that claims the history of the bicycle began in 1815 after a large volcano, Mt. Tambora, erupted in present-day Indonesia.

Following we highlight major milestones for the bicycle that show the evolution leading up to the modern bicycle:

1418 – Giovanni Fontana builds the first human-powered land vehicle. It has four wheels and uses a rope connected by gears to the wheels.

1790 – Comte Mede de Sivrac invents the celerifere. It has two wheels and a seat, but no steering or pedals.

1817- Karl Drais invents the steerable “Laufmaschine”.

1866 – James Starley, a British engineer, invents the penny farthing.

1870’s – The unicycle is invented.

1878 – The first portable bike is made by William Grout.

1879 – Henry J. Lawson patents the bicyclette – a rear wheel, chain-driven safety bicycle.

1880’s – The adult tricycle is invented and offers a more dignified alternative to its high-wheeled counterpart.

1885 – John Kemp Starley invents the Rover safety bicycle in England.

1894 – Michael B. Ryan is granted the first patent for a folding bike.

1924- The velocar is invented by Charles Mochet.

1933 – Cruiser bikes are invented and sold by Schwinn.

1979 – Joe Breeze creates the mountain bike.

1989 – The Sanyo Encale electric bike is released with NiCd batteries – a big advancement from lead-acid batteries.

1989 – Michael Kutter develops what is considered to be the first pedelec, an electric bike where pedaling causes the motor to assist the rider.

1991 – The conference bicycle is invented.

I would like to share what Ernest Hemingway said about riding a bicycle.
It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. ― Ernest Hemingway