HISTORY OF THE CYCLE
From the unicycle, often used by clowns and other entertainers, to the five wheeled pentacycle used as a Post Office delivery vehicle for telegrams, letters and parcels, with many examples of clever, bizarre and dangerous cycling contraptions.
Kirkpatrick MacMillan, a Scottish blacksmith is widely believed to have built the first mechanically-propelled 2 wheel vehicle. He developed a rear wheel drive system using mid mounted treadles connected by rods to a crank, similar to the transmission of a steam powered locomotive.
The first popular and commercially successful bicycle was French in origin, designed by Pierre Michaux about 1863 and referred to as the velocipede, but became known in England as the ‘bone-shaker.’
The high- bicycle or ordinary (since there were no others of a similar kind) was nicknamed the penny farthing- the penny representing the large front wheel and the lower value, smaller farthing, representing the rear.
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- Open daily except Christmas Day from 10.00
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The safety bicycle developed between 1880 and 1890 changed the public perception of the bicycle which had been regarded as a dangerous toy, rather than as a practical means of transport for both men and women of all ages.
The popularity of cycling declined at the beginning of the 20th century as motor cars and motorcycles became available, with much less muscle effort required to get from A to B.
The first mass-produced mountain bike was launched in 1981. By 2000, sales had outstripped those of combined touring and racing variants.
