Who Invented the Bicycle?

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Bicycles are one of those devices that we take for granted sometimes, as we assume that the knowledge needed to create one has been around for thousands of years. Even though bicycles are motorless, they’re relatively new inventions that were developed in the late 19th Century.

But who “invented” the bicycle?

Can we trace it back to Leonardo da Vinci, like the early designs for the helicopter? If Edison invented the light bulb, is there a similar famous name in the history of biking? This article will explore those questions and provide a brief history of the bicycle.

Like many inventions, sometimes the answer to “who invented it?” isn’t clear-cut, as different forms of the bicycle appeared throughout the centuries. Some inventors made quantum leaps, and others modified previously-known machines in order to move the device along into the future, helping greatly with the development of bicycles.

The earliest known concept of a bicycle was written in Leonardo da Vinci’s journals in the 15th Century, but this would have been limited to a schematic. There’s no evidence that da Vinci ever saw or attempted to build his own bicycle, though you do have to give him credit for originality.

After da Vinci, two of the earliest names in the history of the bicycle are Pierre and Ernest Michaux, a father/son team that specialized in building carriages. In the 1860s, they built what could be called the first bicycle as it included pedals and cranks.

Pedals? Don’t those always come on a bicycle?

It depends who you ask. Even before the Michaux family contributed their bicycle to the history of cycling, a German named Karl Drais von Sauerbronn invented a “running machine” that was steerable and made entirely from wood. The contraption, however, used no pedals, instead relying on the user to propel themselves forward by placing their feet on the ground, much like the cars worked in the “Flintstones” series.

After the Michaux family, the famous “high bike” or “penny farthing” was invented and became popular in the late 19th century. James Starly, a British engineer, constructed a bike that was high off the ground and included rubber tires. A small frame held together one large front wheel and a small back wheel, in what today looks like a heavily disproportionate version of the modern bike.

Today, hundreds to thousands of people are making constant tweaks, upgrades, and changes to their bikes, joining the names that have contributed so much to cycling over the years. The next time you ride your bike, you’ll have a clearer, deeper understanding of the work and innovation that went into creating what appears to be a simple device.

Photo Credits: MAMJODH

Originally posted 2009-04-02 05:28:51.

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