The bicycle revolution

It took a few years before a 60-inch wheel and a "crank” drive with pedals was put on the front wheel and this walking machine had become all the rage of those who could afford one. It was found to be a dangerous machine you had to push up to speed before you could mount a seat from the rear. The huge front hard rubber tire was difficult to steer and the balance was none too steady, but it was fun to drive once you got on it. Enterprising individuals in Coventry, England reduced the size of the large 60-inch wheel, put the seat forward enough to change the center of balance of the machine and, even though the hard tires were uncomfortable while riding it, the machine was more manageable and more fun. It became an instant success throughout Europe.

The San Francisco Examiner reported in a 1895 newspaper article that the first bicycle owner on the West Coast of the United States was Col. Ralph de Clairmont who imported it from Paris in 1876. In 1877, G. Loring Cunningham then imported an English bike. The fad of the bicycle was catching on. Soon great numbers were being imported from Coventry, England. This new contraption began being rented by the dozens at the east end of Golden Gate Park. At first, only the rich could afford to buy or rent these bikes but, as more became available, the entire public could afford one.

With the invention of the pneumatic tire by John Boyd Dunlop in 1888, the bicycles became very comfortable and this invention attracted many who desired comfort while biking. Then the "free wheel” was invented allowing the individual to "coast” rather than pumping all the time. By 1905, coaster brakes, Derailleur gears and hand-operated cables for the brakes became available. The simple "coaster” of the early 1800s had now become a "mainstream” vehicle for the masses.

Although not everybody could or did master the rudiments of bicycle riding, everybody was at least trying to ride the bicycle. The thrill of the first ride on the bike gave such sensation that even though you lay on the ground after the first failed try, pride and determination urged you back onto the machine. Training wheels were not in vogue for most and it took some a few tries before the center of gravity was found and the machine became a part of your body. Turning usually caused anxiety but once leaning into a turn with the handlebars moving was mastered, riders felt free — free to go anywhere at any time.

In addition to the "social revolution” the bicycle created in the 1800s, the invention of ball bearings, pneumatic tires as well as chain-driven sprockets and spoke-tensioned wheels laid the foundation for the next great revolution in transportation — the automobile.

The bicycle was continually evolving because of its fascination with the public. It became a revolutionary machine that offered unlimited opportunities to the world when the main means of transportation on land was walking, horseback and carriage riding. It became a very inexpensive means of transportation that liberated thousands from the confines of the city. Susan B. Anthony called it the "freedom machine” for women. In the days when dresses and skirts flowed to the ankles and restricted their movement, this machine led to more rational dress for women. The "bloomer” was invented for women and became a necessary part of her dress if she desired to ride the bike. The original bikes were designed for men and until the step-through frame was offered.

Cycling clubs sprung up everywhere. Tours were arranged for thousands of people who had never left the city before. It became a great commute vehicle that utilized little space in the city apartments. General delivery businesses sprung up, races were set up for the fast crowd.

Due to the unique anatomy of the male and the difficulty of riding the bicycle comfortably for long distances, Charles Bennett’s Bike Web was invented. This eventually became called the "jock strap.”

The bicycle was found to be extremely efficient to ride and it’s been found that the carbon dioxide generated by the bicycle is less than 1/10th that of the most efficient automobile. Slow speeds offered the most efficient self-powered means of transportation to millions around the world and today over 1 billion are in use.

Rediscovering the Peninsula by Darold Fredricks appears in the Monday edition of the Daily Journal.