The secrets of the first bicycle: its inventor and history

The current evolution of the bicycle towards electric bikes is, for some, a revolution in personal transport. However, this mode of transport has a long history, with the first bicycles dating back more than 150 years, or even two centuries if we go back to the origins of the bicycle. A look back at the "little queen".

To understand this, let's take a look back at the evolution of the bicycle through old models.

Seeing his sons Henry and Ernest Michaux struggle with their draisienne, Pierre Michaux created the pedal velocipede in March 1861. He also greatly improved these first bicycles by replacing wood with cast iron, and installing pad brakes and a suspended saddle. Pierre Lallement, who works in the workshops, contributes to the improvement of the bicycle. The invention becomes a commercial product, selling several hundred units and enabling the first cycle touring trip between Paris and Avignon (805 km).

At a time when the grand-bi was becoming the norm, with its large front wheel to increase speed, John Kemp Starley put everyone in agreement. Inventor of the modern bicycle, he brought the rider's feet to the ground, using a chain drive in the rear wheel. This transmission is taken from the other British inventor, Henry John Lawson, although we can cite the bicycle by Eugène Meyer and André Guilmet of uncertain date, 1868. The Rover Safety Bicycle presented in 1885 featured wheels with a diameter close to that of the draisienne, making it more practical and less dangerous.

• 1817 - The first bicycle without pedals
  Called a velocipede according to the patent registered in France, Baron Karl Drais von Sauerbronn's creation is a wooden frame perched on two large wooden wheels. There are already handlebars for changing direction, but no pedals. The rider, in a straddling position, propels the machine with his feet, and has a rudimentary rear brake.
  
  
• 1860s - Pedals added to the front wheel
  1861 saw the appearance of the first bicycles, or velocipedes, with pedals, or rather cranks directly on the front wheel axle. There's no need to push, as on a draisienne, and the standing position becomes more seated. Others tried pedals at the rear, as here in North America, but to no avail.

• 1870s - Invention of the big front bike for greater speed
  While the war of 1870-71 focused attention on France and Germany, England became the scene of innovations, including James Starley's "grand-bi". The front wheel is oversized by 120 cm, on which you sit, opposite a tiny rear wheel. This then takes on absurd dimensions. And yes, there's no intermediate transmission: a large wheel is the only source of traction to increase speed! Some models are even taller than a man (over 2 meters), making for an impractical and dangerous bike.
  
  
• 1880s - Invention of the modern bicycle
  Three inventions were to shape the modern bicycle. The first was Henry John Lawson's velocipede with front pedals, replacing cranks, then with a rear-wheel drive thanks to a chain drive introduced in 1879. The second was the Rover Safety Bicycle in 1885, a modern form of the bicycle from the idea of John K. Starley's idea of a modern bicycle, with conventional wheel diameters. The third invention was John B. Dunlop's pneumatic tire, which replaced the wooden wheel and was later improved by Michelin.

• 20th century - The rise of the bicycle
  The societal impact of the bicycle is enormous, sidelining horses and resulting in urban sprawl. The car remained anecdotal and expensive, while the bicycle became a runaway success, nicknamed "the little queen", the popular mode of transport par excellence. After the Second World War, however, the bicycle was gradually replaced by the democratization of the car, becoming the new symbol of freedom. For many, however, cycling became a way of life, a leisure activity. The road bike has continued to win favor, driven by the popularity of competitions such as the Tour de France. Road bikes were the scene of many innovations in cycling, such as the adoption of aluminum and then carbon, which later found their way into consumer bikes. In the 1980s, the MTB or all-terrain bike also emerged, thanks to the Specialized Stuntjumper, featuring suspension and a full-suspension frame to improve performance.

After the success of leisure bikes, the bicycle is making a comeback on the streets. From the 2000s onwards, it gradually became an everyday means of transport. The environmental benefits of cycling and the introduction of cycle lanes have enabled this comeback. There are also many modern bicycles, including the Vélib' fleet of rental bikes in Paris from 2007 onwards, and in various forms such as cargo bikes.

The 2010s saw the rise of these categories, with different bike models:

• The fitness single-speed or fixie: a stripped-down single-speed bike - or fixed-gear bike - for the stylish urban cyclist.
• The gravel bike: a mix of road bike and mountain bike, more comfortable than the racing bike, with big wheels for gravel and trails.
• The folding bike : with its small 16" or 20" wheels, it's ideal for transport or storage at home.
• Cargo bikes: longtail bikes to carry children on the back, and two-wheeled or three-wheeled bikes with a box on the front for families or professional deliveries.
  These types of bike can carry heavy loads, but are easier to transport thanks to the electric bike.

Indeed, electrically assisted bicycles - or EABs - have been driving the return of the bicycle as a mode of transport since the end of the 20th century. The first electric bikes were launched in the 1990s by Yamaha and Panasonic. Electric assistance made it possible to cover longer distances and reduce the physical effort required, as the central electric motor became the norm. It affects urban bikes as much as VTTAEs, road bikes and gravel bikes.

And the development of electric bicycles continues apace. The chain is also evolving, with belt drives, automatic gearboxes and continuous variable speed drives. In terms of safety, disc brakes are becoming the norm as opposed to the old pads or drum brakes, and ABS could further improve efficiency. The modern bicycle is not only electric, but also connected via applications for geolocationan alarm or even view your routes.