Bicycle is a vehicle consisting of two wheels fixed to a frame, steered by handlebars, and propelled by an arrangement of pedals and gears driven by the feet. The name of this modern vehicle is from the year of 1869.

Various precursors of this system were known as velocipedes, from a French name dating from the late 18th century. From the 1960’s onward, air pollution from car exhaust caused increasing concern and popularity of cycling, both to and from work as well as recreation, has increased tremendously.

In many town and cities, cycle lanes and special cycle paths are set up. The growing emphasis on physical fitness in the 1980’s and 1990’s added to its popularity. In countries such as the Netherlands and Denmark, bicycles are an important means of travel and most roads have separate bicycle lanes. In China India, the bicycle is the most widely used vehicle.

Bicycles throughout history

Modern bicycles, such as the touring and mountain bicycles evolved from seventeenth, eighteenth and the ninetieth century predecessors. The development of the Draisine in 1816, with its steering bar in front, marked an important improvement on earlier designs. Pedal-powered bicycles emerged in the 1860’s and by the 1890’s, bicycles were being built with equal-sized front and near rear wheels, a centered crank connected to the wheels by chain linkage and inflatable tyros and coaster brakes.

In England, these early models were known as hobby horses; the name ``dandy horse’’ was applied particularly to the expensive pedestrian machine invented in 1818. It was Sir Kirlpatrick Macmillan, who first added driving levers and pedals to a machine of the Draisine type.

Bicycle today

Nowadays, bicycles are made in different frame size to suit cyclists of different heights and are based on a range of styles. Modern, multi- speed bicycles have multiple gears. Speed intensive bicycle races are held at banked oval tracks. Bicycles used at such races have no brakes and only one gear. Racers ride in single file to reduce wind resistance.