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Timeline
1817
Baron von Drais invents the Draisine (also known as a Hobby Horse
or Swift-Walker), an improved celerifere than can be steered with handlebars.
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Draisine
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1839
Kirkpatrick MacMilan of Scotland adds cranks and treadmills
to the rear axle of a two-wheeled vehicle, but gains only local notoriety.
1858
Pedals are added to the front wheel of a two-wheeled machine,
creating a bone-jarring machine challed the velocipede or "boneshaker."
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Velocipede
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1868
Velocipedes are manufactured in the United States and velocipede
riding becomes a popular fad.
1869
Solid rubber tires replace iron velocipede tires and the
term "bicycle" is first used.
1872
The Ariel, the first high-wheel Ordinary, is manufactured
in Britian.
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Ordinary
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1876
The Ordinary or high-wheeler is first displayed in America.
1877
First U.S.-made Ordinary manufactured.
1880
League of American Wheelmen is founded and begins lobbying
for better roads.
1884
Thomas Stevens pedals across the United States --from Oakland,
California, to Boston Massachusetts. J. K. Starley invents the "safety
bicycle."
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Starley Saftey bicycle
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1889
Pneumatic rubber tires invented.
1894
Fashion designers re-introduce the bloomer costume, freeing
women from the restrictive corsets and dress of the time.
1895
Chicago puts its mailmen on bicycles; the price of a good-quality
horse reaches a new low; four schoolmarms stir up controversy by wearing
bloomers to work.
1896
Margaret Valentine Le Long rides from Chicago to San Francisco;
coaster brakes are invented; Henry Ford builds his first succesful automobile.
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Ford's first automobile
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1898
Bicyles' popularity in the United States declines.
1899
"Mile-a-Minute" Murphy sets a bicycle speed record
-- one mile in 57.75 seconds.
1903
Bicycle mechanics Wilbur and Orville Wright fly 120 feet
in the first succesful airplane.
1962
New bicycle boom begins.
1972
Bicycles outsell cars in the United States --13 million to
11 million; bicycle thefts account for 17% of all larcenies in the U.S.
1973
Dr. Allan Abbott sets a bicycle speed record, reaching 138.674
mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats.
1975
First Internation Human Powered Speed Championships held.
1976
2,000 cyclists celebrate the Bicentennial by riding across
America.
1981
The Specialized Stumpjumper became the first mass-produced mountain
bikes. It helps popularize the sport.
1984
The road race becomes the first women's cycling event at
the Olympics.
1985
John Howard of the US sets a new bicycle speed record of
152.284 mph. The first person to go over 150 miles an hour on a bicycle.
1995
Fred Rompelberg of the Netherlands sets a new bicycle speed
record of 166.9 mph. At the time, he was 50 years old, and the world's
oldest professional cyclist.
1996
Mountain biking introduced as an Olympic sport.
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