The “dandy horse”, also called Draisienne or Laufmaschine, was the first human means of transport to use only two wheels in tandem and was invented by the German Baron Karl von Drais. It is regarded as the first bicycle, but it did not have pedals; Drais introduced it to the public in Mannheim in 1817 and in Paris in 1818. Its rider sat astride a wooden frame supported by two in-line wheels and pushed the vehicle along with his or her feet while steering the front wheel. Triathlon/Time Trial Bicycles are road huffy beach cruisers with a special design that maximizes their aerodynamic properties. The handlebars are also a special aerodynamic design that allows you to crouch forward while riding, to minimize the wind resistance against your body. Triathlon/time trial races usually have staggered starts, where each racer starts on his/her own; these bicycles are usually not allowed to be used in mass-start races.
A bicycle is relatively simple compared with a car, so some cyclists choose to do at least part of the maintenance themselves. Some components are easy to handle using relatively simple tools, while other components may require specialist manufacturer-dependent tools. A rear hub brake may be either hand-operated or pedal-actuated, as in the back pedal coaster brakes schwinn spin bike which were popular in North America until the 1960s. These are inherently more aerodynamic than upright versions, as the rider may lean back onto a support and operate pedals that are on about the same level as the seat. The world’s fastest bicycle is a recumbent bicycle but this type was banned from competition in 1934 by the Union Cycliste Internationale.
They have a flat or upright handlebar, although not as upright as regular hybrid bikes; they usually have a smaller, more performance-oriented seat, rather than a large comfort seat. Dual-sport bikes make good commuter bikes, and are also good for touring on unpaved trails. Its safe design makes it easy to control, and it offers a stable ride for riders of any ability. Cruiser bikes have padded seats, thick tires, and coaster brakes, which are brakes that stop when you push backward on the pedals. Some bikes offer all the amenities of a cruiser bike but also have hand brakes for a smooth, precise stop. Saddles also vary with rider preference, from the cushioned ones favored by short-distance riders to narrower saddles which allow more room for leg swings.
As days get shorter, you may find yourself suddenly pulling a lot more ‘dawn patrols’ or night riding on the trails. If you’re new to night riding on the mountain bike, you’ll quickly realize that the handy little light that you use for your road rides or commutes just isn’t cutting it on gnarly singletrack. Tandem Bicycles are “bicycles built for two.” They come in all styles, from cruiser tandems and hybrid tandems for the bike path or boardwalk, off-road mountain bike tandems, and high-performance road racing tandems. Flat-Foot Comfort Bicycles are a sub-category of cruiser bikes.
Bicycle competition includes racing, BMX racing, track racing, criterium, roller racing, sportives and time trials. Major multi-stage professional events are the Giro d’Italia, the Tour de France, the Vuelta a España, the Tour de Pologne, and the Volta a Portugal. They were popular in a time when there were not cars on the market and the principal mode of transportation was horse-drawn vehicles, such the horse and buggy or the horsecar. Among the earliest clubs was The Bicycle Touring Club, which has operated since 1878. By the turn of the century, cycling clubs flourished on both sides of the Atlantic, and touring and racing became widely popular. The Raleigh Bicycle Company was founded in Nottingham, England in 1888.