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In 1817, The German inventor Karl von Drais developed a horseless carriage that would help him get around faster. This two-wheeled, pedal-less device is thought to be the first bicycle.<\/p>\n
It was a wooden frame propelled by pushing your feet against the ground. It also had a padded saddle and a steerable front iron shod wheel. The machine was called the “swiftwalker.” It was also known as \u00a0the \u201cvelocipede,\u201d \u201chobby-horse,\u201d \u201cdraisine\u201d and \u201crunning machine.\u201d<\/p>\n
The photo above is a model that came from Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, and belonged to the 5th Duke of Marlborough (1766-1840).<\/p>\n
On Drais\u2019 first report ride on June 12, 1817 he covered 13\u00a0km (eight miles) in less than an hour.<\/p>\n
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The term “bicycle” was coined in France and did not emerge until 1869. By then the “high wheel bicycle” became a popular style machine in the 1870s.<\/p>\n
More can be read on the History website in an article \u201cThe Bicycle\u2019s Bumpy History<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n To see on cycling, pedal through the By George Journal menu<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bygeorgejournal.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/early-bike-3-1024x610.png\")
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