Biking A Great Summer Activity

For those of us who like to bike, summertime brings ample opportunity to enjoy sunshine, warm breezes, and get our exercise all atop a two-wheeled conveyance pedaled by manpower (or womanpower, as the case may be). People use bikes not only for recreation and exercise, but also as a means of transportation to get from one place to another quickly and cheaply.

Bicycles, like every other piece of equipment, evolved through the years from unwieldy, uncomfortable rides to today's sleek, efficient machines. The first bikes, made entirely from wood, never came close to the performance or comfort we enjoy with today's modern bikes. In two short centuries, the bike has evolved as the most efficient land vehicle when considering greatest distance traveled per weight per unit of energy expended, of all land traveling machines or animals, including humans on foot, which means the bike is more efficient than walking.

The first pseudo-bike, which had no pedals, no springs, and no brakes, made an appearance in 1812. Called the hobbyhorse and developed by Baron von Drais, the conveyance helped him maneuver around his large gardens. This machine, made entirely from wood, had two same-sized wheels and a frame and looked much like a modern day bike. Von Drais propelled his machine by straddling the frame and pushing his feet against the ground, rolling himself forward in a gliding walk.

In 1865 the Velocipede appeared. Otherwise known as the bone shaker, the machine had pedals mounted on two large front wheels, and it had brakes. Earlier models were made entirely from wood, while later models had a wooden frame with metal wheels. This invention did not provide a smooth comfortable ride. Cobblestone roads compounded the discomfort, hence the nickname 'bone shaker'.

In 1870 the 'ordinary' or 'pennyfarthing' bike made its debut. This bike, which I associate with circus clowns and performing monkeys, had a huge front wheel. This design, made completely from metal, had pedals attached directly to the front wheel. Solid rubber tires combined with the long spokes in the big front wheel gave it a much more comfortable ride than did the bone shaker. Front wheels got larger and larger as people realized that the bigger the wheel, the farther a person could travel with one rotation of the pedals. This model, the first to be called a bicycle, became immensely popular.

However, with the large front wheel, the rider sat high above the center of gravity, so if the front wheel hit a stone or a rut in the road, the bike rotated on its front axle. The rider, with his legs under the handlebars, crashed, generally landing on his head. This is where the term "taking a header' originated.

In 1890, the first modern bike appeared. Its lightweight frame and geared chain and sprocket drive made it a much better bike and with the front and rear wheels the same size, the safety factor improved as well. With the combined safety and comfort features, the popularity of bikes exploded. This bike helped make the Gay 90s such a carefree decade. The bike provided transportation and more opportunities for leisure. Women began riding bikes as well, so ladies' clothing styles changed. The bike craze killed the bustle and corset, formerly considered proper dress for women, so with the demise of these unwieldy pieces of attire, women's mobility increased as well. In 1896 Susan B, Anthony remarked that "the bicycle has done more for the emancipation of women than anything else in the world."

Since the 1890s, the bike has continued to evolve and improve. The 50s and 60s saw the 3-speed bike; the 10 speed derailleur hit the market in the 70s, and today we have the multi-speed mountain bike.

Tandems, or the two seater bicycles built for two, had their heyday as well. They proved a popular way for a man to court his lady friend. Likely very few readers recall the song "Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer, do. I'm half-crazy all for the love of you. It won't be a stylish marriage, I can't afford a carriage. But you'll look sweet upon the seat of a bicycle built for two." My dad used to sing this song, which was popular when my parents were young.

Today people ride tandems either as a novelty or else to reach high speeds that one person can't achieve on his or her own.

Because of the invention of the bike, we have many other conveniences as well. Modern wheel chairs and baby carriages benefitted from the innovations made by bike manufacturers. At the turn of the century, biking clubs agitated for paved roads, and these paved roads contributed to the success of the automobile. Early automobile inventors used bike technology to produce their machines. Two bicycle mechanics, Orville and Wilbur Wright, invented the first successful airplane.

When you ride your bike this summer, thank technology and innovation for your smooth riding machine that gets you from point A to point B enjoyably and extremely efficiently.