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Article: First bicycles took a turn for the worst
- Article from:
- Chicago Sun-Times
- Article date:
- June 5, 1988
CopyrightCopyright (null) Chicago Sun-Times. (Hide copyright information)
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In 1816, German inventor Karl von Drais established himself as
the father of the modern bicycle when he took out a patent on a
two-wheeled riding machine.
His "Draisienne" had iron tires, a padded seat, an armrest and
no pedals. To ride it, he pushed himself along by working his legs
as if he were on a scooter. The Draisienne became popular all over
Europe and England. Among its many names was Dandy-Horse, for the
society dandies with whom it was most popular.
Other inventors were fascinated and revised it. The first cycle
driven with both feet off the ground was invented in 1838, probably
by a Scotsman. It had a treadle at the front that turned cranks
attached to the rear axle. In the ...