Sunday 30 August 2015

The Birth Of The Bicycle

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In 1818, Baron Karl von Drais of Baden, Germany patented the design for a two-wheeled Laufmaschine, or 'running machine.' It consisted of two in-line wheels beneath a seat and handlebars, and was propelled by the rider pushing off the ground with his feet.

Also called the 'Draisine,' the device was created not out of fancy but necessity - Drais was looking for a substitute for the horses that had starved to death in the recent volcanic winter, caused by the eruption of Mount Tambora in 1815.

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