Bicycles

Everyday Inventions

by Kristin Petrie

This book introduces the history of the invention of bicycles, including the early designs and questionable influence of Leonardo da Vinci and Comte M�d� de Sivrac, the c�l�rif�re, Baron Karl de Drais's draisienne, Kirkpatrick Macmillan and Pierre and Ernest Michaux's pedal and crank improvements, the boneshaker, James Starley's Ariel, the penny-farthing, the ordinary, H.J. Lawson's chain-driven back wheel, John Kemp Starley's Rover Safety model, John Boyd Dunlop's pneumatic tires, and the invention of mountain bikes. Other chapters delve into bicycle parts, from handlebars and derailleurs to wheels and brakes, as well as how these parts work together to keep riders upright and bicycles moving. Other sections cover different kinds of bicycles, including road, mountain, hybrid, bmx, recumbent, and tandem bikes, as well as the designers, manufacturers, salespeople, repairers, messengers, and racers who work with them. Fun facts discuss the Tour de France and inventors Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach and the first motorcycle. The book also addresses the popularity of bicycles, how easily they can be fixed, and their benefits as a healthy form of exercise and an efficient, environmentally friendly form of transportation. Full-color photographs, informative diagrams, glossary words in bold, a graphic timeline, a sidebar on bicycle safety, and an index enhance this engaging, easy-to-read text about bicycles, an everyday invention that exists in the millions worldwide. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.

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First published July 1, 2008