| Most of us got one when we were kids. Five | | | | ride. Bicycle sales started to go down. By the |
| years old seems about the age when kids are | | | | 1940s, the bicycle, which started out as an adult |
| ready for their first ride. Getting your first bike is | | | | form of transportation, was now being viewed as |
| really a time of excitement. Most kids probably | | | | a toy for kids. The bicycle fell on hard times until |
| had training wheels on their first bike, these were | | | | the 1960s when people had a renewed interest in |
| used to keep the bike from falling down, while the | | | | their health and in the environment. Bicycle sales in |
| kid was still on it. That was the trick with the | | | | the US really went up after the oil crisis in 1973. In |
| bicycle, before you could learn to ride, you had to | | | | the years to follow, we began to see more |
| learn how to not fall off the seat. Once you | | | | innovations with the bike; these included higher |
| learned how to ride, having your bike became a | | | | performing bikes and gears that went from 3 up |
| very liberating experience. It was probably your | | | | to 18 speeds. |
| first taste of independence; you could just get on | | | | The bicycle has not only survived, but it has done |
| your bike and ride without needing help. | | | | as great job of adapting through time. It started |
| The bicycle has to be listed as one of the | | | | out as being primarily for adult use and then it |
| greatest inventions ever. No single person has | | | | was reduced to a toy for kids and today the bike |
| been given credit for that, but some of the | | | | has the best of all worlds. Kids still love getting |
| earliest forms of bikes date back to the early | | | | their first bikes. Bicycles are still used as a mode |
| 1800s. Karl Drais invented something called the | | | | of transportation, especially on college campuses. |
| dandy-horse in 1817. His creation didn't have any | | | | And adults realize that riding a bike is a good way |
| pedals, so you had to push it with your feet. In | | | | to stay in shape. Plus, sport has created a whole |
| the 1860s, Frenchmen Michaux and Lallement | | | | new use for bicycles. There is something called |
| created the pedal. This new version of the bike | | | | extreme sports where some of the competition |
| with pedals was called the boneshaker. James | | | | requires using a bicycle to do airborne tricks. This |
| Starley improved on the boneshaker and in 1885, | | | | sport alone, has created massive exposure and |
| he released his version of the bicycle, it was called | | | | added sales for the bicycle industry. |
| the rover. The rover was considered the first | | | | The bicycle has created its own niche in the world |
| modern type bicycle. | | | | and has been able to fit into so many different |
| Bicycles have gradually evolved into a great form | | | | cultures. Unlike a lot of past inventions, the bicycle |
| of transportation. They were very popular, but | | | | is just as vital today as it was when it was |
| times change. The car became more affordable | | | | created. |
| and people were choosing a car ride over a bike | | | | |