BICYCLE, a two-wheeled instrument driven by pedal cranks on either side and propelled by the rider, who sits astride upon a seat, or saddle, which is mounted on a frame in which the wheels are set. A handle bar in front is used to guide the forward wheel, which acts as a steering wheel, to preserve or change the direction. In the early, and now obsolete form, the bicycle was propelled by striking the rider's feet on the ground. The rider sat upon a figure or frame, roughly resembling the body of a horse. The bicycle is a gradual evo lution from a four-wheeled, self-propel ling machine invented as long ago as 1649. In 1816, Karl von Drais, Freiherr von Sauerbroon (1784-1851), built a rudimentary bicycle, consisting of two wheels, one before the other, connected by a perch, the forward wheel axled in a fork swiveled to the forward end of the perch and bearing a cross-bar or handles for steering. The rider sat astride the perch and propelled the ma chine by thrusting his feet on the ground and on level ground could easily make 6 miles an hour. The Drasine, or Draisine, as this first machine was called, was patented in Paris in 1816. It was introduced into England in 1818, and patented there with some improve ments by a man named Knight. It very soon acquired the name of "dandy horse" or "hobby horse." In 1819 the "hobby horse" was brought to the United States and created great enthusiasm in many of our leading cities. But the fever did not last long. It is asserted, though not proved, that a Scotchman, Kirkpatrick McMillan, having tried a system of cranks, side-levers, connection rods, and pedals for propelling a tricycle, in 1815, applied them to a wooden bicycle in 1840, and used it with success. In 1846, Gavin Dalzel, or Dalzelle, who is said to have seen McMillan's machine, in vented and rode a rear driving velo cipede propelled by pedals on hanging levers which, by means of connecting rods instead of chains, rotated cranks on the rear axle. In 1855, Michaux, a
Parisian carriage-maker, built a veloci pede which was propelled by cranks on the front wheel. Ten years later Pierre Lallement invented the front driv ing velocipede, which gained a wonder ful though short-lived popularity. He patented it in the United States in 1866. Before the velocipede craze had passed the English manufacturers conceived the idea of enlarging the front wheel, and the high bicycle with suspension wheels was speedily developed. For some years the two wheels were of very unequal size, the rider being mounted directly over the very large one. It was so high that mounting was difficult and a fall dangerous. It was used only by men and high speed was attained. About 1884 the high wheel began to be abandoned for the modern type, usually called the "Safety," in which, at first, the large wheel was made smaller and the smaller one larger, and afterward both wheels were made of equal diameter, speed be ing gained by the rear wheel having a high gear. The old type had hard rubber tires for the wheels. The introduction of the pneumatic tire in 1891, by J. B.
Dunlop, wrought a practical revolution in the bicycle industry. From being merely an instrument for recreation and sport, it became one of the most common vehicles upon the highways. The "safety" bicycles were adopted for military pur poses by many of the nations of the world. The invention of the motor cycle, however, caused this swift and more powerful vehicle to supersede the bicycle for military use.
The popularity of the bicycle in the United States began to decline early in the 20th century. Its use as a mode of conveyance is, however, still wide, espe cially in the rural districts, and in foreign countries its popularity as a pleasure vehicle still persists.