In the early 1800's the first forms of the bicycle were being made. They were commonly referred to as "velocipedes". They were pedal-less Donnel Pumphrey Eagles Jersey , hard wheeled, wood contraptions. The rider sat on a seat and used his legs to thrust himself along.

It wasn't till the latter 1830's that pedal powered cycles were introduced. This is when those large wheeled cycles we've seen in old pics came along. They were named High Wheelers and they were the style of the time for men.

The ride on one of these large wheel cycles through the towns of the time was dangerous. They were not very well situated to ride and a bit hard to keep erect. If the ride didn't rough you up a bit, the fall surely would. They earned the nickname "bone-shakers" for good reason.

With the discovery of the Safety Bicycle, all that changed. A man named John Kemp Starley is said to have made the first successful example in 1885. He named it the "Rover," but he never registered it.

Starley's groundbreaking design featured some parts we are now familiar with. It had two tires the same size, a chain drive to the rear wheel and a steerable front wheel.

In earlier cycles Rasul Douglas Eagles Jersey , the frame was heavy, and usually made of wood. The introduction of lighter metals and the diamond frame design made them lighter. This one change allowed for various other innovations to be contributed.

Previously, the cycling action of the rider was applied to the front wheel. This made it hard to power the bicycle and it was more accident prone. With a chain drive attached to the rear wheel, the rider could more easily pedal. Turning street corners and other maneuvers became more comfortable, and the bicycle viewed as safer.

With the addition of air filled tires, the riders of the time were finding it easier. Long gone were the days of hard rubber or wood tires. These new tires were lighter and offered a significantly improved Sidney Jones Eagles Jersey , cushioned ride.

The cycling frenzy hit Europe and North America in the middle to later 1800's. People from the middle classes as well as the posh were keen to get in on this crazy way to jaunt around. Cycling clubs were popping up all around Europe and the United States cycling was not only a sport leisure-time activity, but it became a crucial form of personal transportation as well.

Women, particularly, were bringing together the ranks of bicycle riders in huge numbers. Before these alterations to the bicycle, women were not allowed to ride. There was a question about the perils and possible moral significances of a woman driving a bicycle. For a time, even with the safety features Derek Barnett Eagles Jersey , young unmarried women could only ride in the party of an older, well-thought-of female.