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Did you know that the first bike was made of wood? Yep, it’s true! Can you imagine what it would feel like to ride a bicycle that didn’t have rubber tires, but wagon style wheels instead? Not only would it be a bumpy ride, but boy, would those splinters smart!

In 1817, a gentleman named Baron von Drais conceived a machine made entirely of wood, which would help him to travel about the royal gardens with more ease. He called this contraption a walking machine, because it was not ridden, exactly, rather it was pushed around. You see, Baron von Drais’ machine looked like a bike, since it had two in-line wheels and a steering apparatus over the front wheel. The person who was to ride the walking machine would straddle the frame and push his feet against the ground to propel himself- - there were no pedals. Since it was not a practical machine to use as transportation on anything bumpier than manicured garden paths, the walking machine did not gain much popularity. It did however, make way for another idea.

In 1865, another two-wheeled riding machine made the scene. It actually had pedals that were applied to the front wheel in order to propel it forward. However, since metallurgists had not yet learned how to fuse light metals into sturdy enough structures for riding, this machine was also made entirely out of wood. Officially, this prototype to what we call the bicycle was called the Velocipede, or “fast foot.” Though, people generally referred to it as the Boneshaker, because it gave a very bumpy ride. Eventually, the tires came to be fashioned out of metal, but riding the two-wheeled contraption over the cobble-stoned roads of town was nothing less than uncomfortable. Soon, indoor riding rinks began to crop up in large cities, as people found these Velocipedes to be very interesting, even if they did shake the bones.

The year 1870 rolled around, and a new machine began to hit the streets. A few improvements had been made on the Velocipede; firstly, the entire frame was made from metal, and secondly, the wheels were fashioned from long metal spokes, which were connected to solid rubber tires. Now, let’s just say that the front wheel of this bicycle was not exactly the same size as the back wheel. It was almost three times the size of the back wheel- - it was huge. That’s why this new bike was called the High-Wheel Bicycle. You see, the engineers of this machine discovered that the larger the wheel, the farther a person could ride with one rotation of the pedals. If your leg was long enough to reach the pedal, then you were in business. However, there were a few drawbacks to this bicycle still. For one, it was very expensive (it would take an average working person 6 months to be able to afford one.) And secondly, if that big front wheel was to come into contact with a rut in the road, or a cat darting across the street, the person riding would simply fly over the front of the handlebars onto his head. Owie.

Women of this time period were wearing long skirts and confining bodices. Riding on such a machine was not something that women could easily do in these outfits. Thus, a new machine appeared, called the High Wheel Tricycle. Now here was a method of transportation that was not terribly risky, or uncomfortable. In fact, these tricycles for adults could be seen as predecessors to automobiles, since they made way for new technological advances such as band brakes and rack-and-pinion steering. Besides, a proper lady was not about to fall on her head and make a fool of herself on the street. Doctors and clergymen agreed- - they tended to use these trikes for travelling around town as well.

Eventually, the original idea of using two wheels of the same proportion came to make sense again. This came about because advances in metallurgy allowed lighter and smaller chains and sprockets to be used on the bike. Gears allowed each rotation of the pedal to go further than they did before. However, they were still quite uncomfortable to ride, since the tires were made of solid rubber. They may have been safer than the High Wheel bikes, but the bumps in the road still felt awfully bumpy.

Then something wonderful happened. An Irish veterinarian named Dr. Dunlop developed a pneumatic, or air-filled, tire for his son’s tricycle. From then on, a person could both feel safe and comfortable when riding a bicycle. By the 1890’s, the bicycle represented a symbol of efficiency and personal freedom. Women’s fashion even changed to accommodate the new trend of bike riding. Whereas women had been constricted in corsets and bustles, the popularity and sensibility of the bicycle inspired a style of dress that allowed women to wear more comfortable clothes. Being able to dress more comfortably allowed women to move more freely, and as a consequence, women began to feel freer as human beings. In fact, in 1896, women’s right’s pioneer Susan B. Anthony stated that “the bicycle has done more for the emancipation of women than anything else in the world.”

Maybe the next time you are flying down the street on a bike with the wind in your hair, you’ll think about the freedom that the bicycle has allowed all people. Besides, bikes offer a great way to get exercise while allowing the rider to transport themselves to cool places. And, they don’t pollute the environment! A few more reasons to like bikes!