bicycle
Full Name: Bicycle
Nickname/Alias: bike, velocipede
Details:
The first true bicycle, with pedals on the (larger) front wheel and a wooden frame and wheels, was put on the market in 1864 by the company set up by French blacksmith Pierre [developed by]Michaux.* It had iron ties and was known as the “boneshaker.”
The bicycle craze soon disappeared in France, but interest grew in England and the US. A few years later (in the UK) the modern metal frame first appeared. It consisted of the main triangle (which carries the seat, handlebars and fork) attached to the rear triangle (carrying the rear wheel).
In 1888 Northern Irish veterinarian John Boyd Dunlop invented the first pneumatic rubber bicycle tires.Gears were developed between 1901 and 1906 (UK inventors: Sturmey & Archer).
Over the years, the metal from which bicycles are made has changed from iron to steel, to aluminum alloy, titanium, and lately, carbon fiber. Modern mountain bikes often have suspension built into their frames.
The bicycle is at present enjoying a renaissance, as concerns grow regarding pollution and the greenhouse-gas effects of automobile use. In the light of these concerns, in 2006 the French city of Paris introduced free bikes, to be picked up anywhere and dropped off anywhere by any user.
Oneliner: The bicycle
Bibliography:
- Bicycle, About.com;http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blbicycle.htm
- Encyclopedia Britannica.
bicycle, also called a pedal cycle, bike, push-bike or cycle, is a human-powered or motor-powered assisted, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A bicycle rider is called a cyclist, or bicyclist.
Bicycles were introduced in the 19th century in Europe. By the early 21st century there were more than 1 billion.[1][2][3] These numbers far exceed the number of cars, both in total and ranked by the number of individual models produced.[4][5][6] They are the principal means of transportation in many regions. They also provide a popular form of recreation, and have been adapted for use as children's toys, general fitness, military and police applications, courier services, bicycle racing, and bicycle stunts.
The basic shape and configuration of a typical upright or "safety bicycle", has changed little since the first chain-driven model was developed around 1885.[7][8][9] However, many details have been improved, especially since the advent of modern materials and computer-aided design. These have allowed for a proliferation of specialized designs for many types of cycling. In the 21st century electric bicycles have become popular.
The bicycle's invention has had an enormous effect on society, both in terms of culture and of advancing modern industrial methods. Several components that played a key role in the development of the automobile were initially invented for use in the bicycle, including ball bearings, pneumatic tires, chain-driven sprockets and tension-spoked wheels.[10]...