Ride Away

Today’s anniversary

is the patenting of the bicycle.

  Bikes sure have changed a lot!

 Way back when,

(1790) bikes were

straddled and walked…

a little like a scooter. 

You got around a little faster

 than by just walking –

 but not much,

and you had to use

 smooth pathways. 

I’d hate to dismiss

Comte Mede de Sivrac’s idea…

 but it was hardly practical!

Around 1839,

a Scotsman came up

 with a brilliant plan…

 pedals!

Kirkpatrick MacMillan’s bike

 weighed 26kilograms. 

Copycats quickly used his idea,

so MacMillan didn’t make

 any money from it.  

 Pedal into 1870

and the Penny Farthing appeared.

 This was a bloke’s bike

 because it was so dangerous

and difficult to ride…

Think of Mulga Bill

and his famous crash!

About 1885, bikes went back

to having the same sized wheels,

 which were closer to the ground.

They were much safer. 

This design was led by

J.K. Starley – around 1885. 

With inflatable tyres,

the bike ride became

more comfortable, too.

Today's bikes sure

came from interesting ideas.

Photos and Information from here.