Tag: bicycle history

Arthur Roadhouse: The Boy With No Legs Who Rode Like the Wind

~ Steve Wartenberg ~ Leave a comment

The paragraph above, from an August 22, 1895 story in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, Missouri, certainly got my attention. How about you? I had to find out more about a 508-pound bike rider, and the cyclist with one arm and no legs. How the heck did Arthur turn the pedals without legs? Could this story … Continue reading Arthur Roadhouse: The Boy With No Legs Who Rode Like the Wind

Inventing the Bicycle, Part 3: The Pedal-Power Revolution (1840 to 1867)

~ Steve Wartenberg ~ 5 Comments

This is the third and final part of my history of the invention of the bicycle. Here's the link to Part 1 and the link to Part 2. From the New York Times, August 22, 1867 … So the improved velocipede, the one we see so frequently in the streets [of Paris] mounted by fashionably dressed … Continue reading Inventing the Bicycle, Part 3: The Pedal-Power Revolution (1840 to 1867)

Inventing the Bicycle, Part 1: The Horseless Carriage and Celerifere (1779 to 1791)

~ Steve Wartenberg ~ 3 Comments

Who invented the bicycle?  The French say it was Michaux and seem to have forgotten about their countrymen Blanchard and Sivrac. “Nein” say the Germans, it was the Baron Von Drais, everyone knows this. And then there are the Scots, who say these claims are rubbish and the honor rightly belongs to our Macmillan and … Continue reading Inventing the Bicycle, Part 1: The Horseless Carriage and Celerifere (1779 to 1791)

Bicycle History: Dogs Have Been Chasing & Biting Cyclists Since the 1700s

~ Steve Wartenberg ~ 1 Comment

Soon after the first velocipedist headed out for a ride, a dog gave “chafe.”  Chafe? That’s how they spelled the word chase back in the days of Old English, the long s and the first canine attacks. I found evidence of the delight dogs take in chasing bicycle-like vehicles, and sinking their teeth into riders, as … Continue reading Bicycle History: Dogs Have Been Chasing & Biting Cyclists Since the 1700s