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The Story of the Bicycle
How two wheels learned to balance
Hop on as we zoom through time to see how a wooden scoot-toy grew into the fast, pedal-power bicycle you ride today!
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- 1817
The Wooden Scooter
Karl von Drais built a wooden bike with no pedals at all. You had to push your feet against the dirt to scoot along!
The big idea
Clever inventors kept tweaking wheels and pedals until riding became easy, safe, and fun.
Fun facts
- ✨ The word 'bicycle' comes from two words meaning 'two' and 'wheel.'
- ✨ Giant high-wheel bikes were named 'Penny-Farthings' after two British coins—one big and one small!
- ✨ Riding a bicycle uses way less energy than walking the exact same distance.
Science words
- Velocipede — An old-fashioned name for bikes that means 'fast foot.'
- Pedal — A lever you push with your foot to make wheels turn.
- Pneumatic — Filled with squishy air, like modern bicycle tires!