bicycle at first it could not move by itself

Cycling is a popular fitness method nowadays. It not only strengthens the body, but the scenery seen and the wonderful mood enjoyed during the ride are invaluable experiences.

In today's rapidly advancing technology, more and more people are developing new directions for bicycles, such as the magnetic levitation bike invented by the British, and the racing bike that set a world record speed of 138 km/h (38.3 meters per second) last year. But before this, do you know how the bicycle was born?



At the end of the 18th century, the Frenchman Sivrac invented the earliest bicycle. The reason was that it had rained the day before, leaving a lot of water on the road, making it difficult to walk. While walking on a street in Paris, a four-wheeled carriage suddenly came rolling from behind. The street was narrow, and the carriage was wide. Sivrac dodged and fortunately wasn't hit, but he was splashed with mud and water. People saw this and felt sorry for him, angrily cursing and wanting to stop the carriage to reason with the driver. Sivrac murmured, 'Don't shout, let them go.' As the carriage went away, he stood by the roadside, thinking: The road is so narrow, and there are so many pedestrians. Why not change the structure of the carriage? It should be cut in half, with four wheels becoming two wheels in front and back... With this thought, he went home and started designing. After repeated experiments, in 1791, the first 'wooden horse wheel' vehicle was created.



This earliest bicycle was made of wood, with a simple structure. It had no driving or steering mechanism. The rider had to push off the ground with their feet to move forward and had to get off to change direction. Even so, when Sivrac rode this bicycle in the park, people were amazed and praised it.

So, the name 'bicycle' doesn't seem quite suitable for the earliest invention, as it was more like a 'human-powered vehicle'! In fact, it was called 'wooden horse wheel' at the time, not 'bicycle'.

The world's first practical bicycles appeared in the early 19th century. In 1817, the German Drais invented a wooden two-wheeled bicycle with handlebars in Paris, France. His idea came from the principle of ice skates. He thought if people put a seat on two wheels and sat on it, they could move forward by alternating their feet, just like skating. Although this bicycle still required foot propulsion, it allowed for steering while moving forward. It immediately attracted great interest upon its debut. The French began mass-producing it, and soon, hundreds of bicycles appeared on the streets of Paris.

(Drais's 1817 design)

In 1818, British blacksmith and mechanic Denis Johnson was the first to replace wood with iron, using iron for the wheel frame. This iron bicycle could reach a speed of 13 kilometers per hour when ridden by skilled and experienced riders.

In 1830, the French government equipped postal workers with bicycles as a means of transportation. Subsequently, bicycle technology and performance continued to improve.

In 1839, the Briton Macmillan invented the pedal-driven bicycle, which allowed riders to keep their feet off the ground, increasing travel speed.

The Renault bicycle, born in 1869, featured a frame made of steel tubes, wheels with steel rims and spokes, and solid tires, making the bicycle lighter.

In 1887, the Briton Lawson completed the design of the chain-driven bicycle. In the same year, the Briton Dunlop developed the pneumatic tire.

Since then, bicycles began their glorious development history...



It is worth mentioning that people at that time speculated that the key to faster speeds lay in the size of the wheels. The larger the wheel, the longer the distance covered in one rotation, and the faster the speed.



In 1870, the Briton James Starley designed a bicycle with different-sized wheels. The rear wheel had a diameter of only 90 cm, while the front driving wheel had a diameter of over 125 cm. Riding such a bicycle was like riding high on a horse, but it was very dangerous when accelerating downhill and getting on and off due to its height.



In China, the history of bicycles began in the mid-to-late 19th century. At that time, bicycles were popularly referred to as 'foreign horses.' Even today, many people still like to call them that.



The term 'bicycle' first appeared in China in the diary of late Qing diplomat Zhang Deyi. 'I saw a tourist riding a bicycle, made of steel, with a large front wheel and a small rear wheel, a beam across the top. The person sat on the beam, hands on the rudder, feet on the axle ends, and moved swiftly like a galloping horse.' In January 1868, during the Tongzhi reign, several bicycles were imported to Shanghai from Europe for the first time. People sat on them and propelled themselves by pushing off the ground with their feet, using them as a recreational means of transportation.

Since then, bicycles have witnessed over a century of China's historical trajectory.

In 1922, when Puyi got married, his cousin Pu Jie gave him a bicycle. A few days later, he became the only Chinese emperor who could ride a bicycle, even though it was already the Republican era.



In the 1960s and 1970s, bicycles became one of the 'three big items' in Chinese households, alongside watches and sewing machines. Buying a bicycle required a 'ticket.' Bicycles had become an integral part of the daily lives of the Chinese people. As a bicycle kingdom, we all have some connection with bicycles. Brands like Forever, Phoenix, and Flying Pigeon have accompanied the growth and memories of several generations.



Bicycles were born in Europe, but in the 20th century, they achieved unprecedented popularity and development in China.

China ranks first in the world in bicycle production, consumption, and export. Chinese people own more than 500 million bicycles, with annual exports reaching 20 million units. In a sense, China is a bicycle kingdom. Every morning and at sunset, the rolling flow of bicycles in Chinese cities is a spectacular sight, a moving Great Wall.



In the 1980s and 1990s, bicycle production underwent significant changes. The monotonous old styles were replaced by colorful new bicycles. Brands like Flying Pigeon and Forever no longer enjoyed exclusive glory. Mountain bikes, variable-speed bikes, high-end racing bikes, and electric bicycles flourished.

By the 21st century, the single practical function of bicycles had evolved into entertainment. People no longer just ride bikes but play with them. Bicycles have transformed from mere transportation tools to fitness tools and even fashion accessories for trendy individuals.




So, health-conscious and fashion-forward you, have you ridden a bike today?