Let's ride back into the times when the world used to 'cycle'

Lucknow: Bicycles are one of the marvelous inventions humankind has ever done. Its simple yet significant mechanism has helped people all over the world to commute long distances without disturbing environment. As it doesn't burn fuel to run it is a very cheap mode of transportation too.

Did you know of the reports that suggest how the first velocipedes, yes that is the name for early models of the bicycles (which got its name bicycle in 1868), was invented?

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As this mighty machine has many names claiming credit for inventing the first bicycle, the answer to the question often depends upon the nationality of who you ask. As the French claim it was a Frenchman, Scots claim a Scotsman, the English an Englishman, and Americans often claim that it was an American. But as reports suggests many genius minds were working to create and develop it.

To answer our previous question how it was invented has also a history attached to it. It is said that in early 18's there was a widespread starvation and the slaughtering of horses due to the bad harvest, which led to the invention of 'running machine', 'velocipede' or 'Draisine' as named after its inventor Baron Karl von Drais who was a German. This early model had a steerable front wheel with wood body.

Glorious history of Bi-cycles:

-The first ever bicycle or 'Draisine' as what is used to be called, had a wooden frame and had no 'peddle' to propel it. It was pushed forward by using feet and steering the front wheel.

-It is said that the Japanese invaded most of Malaysia while riding their bicycles during WW2.

-The number of bikes in the Netherlands out numbers the population.

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-First commercially sold bicycle “Boneshaker” weighed 80 kg when it appeared for sale in 1868 in Paris.

-The worlds longest bicycle measures at 41.42 m (135 ft 10.7 in) long and was created by Santos and University of South Australia.

-Bicycles save over 238 million gallons of gas every year.

-Bicycles can have more than one seat. Most popular configuration is two-seater tandem bike, but record holder is 67 feet long bicycle that was driven by 35 people.

-According to reports, in 1969, about half of all students walked or bicycled to school. But now, the story is very different. Fewer than 15 percent of all school trips are made by walking or bicycling, one-quarter are made on a school bus, and over half of all children arrive at school in private automobiles.

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