Velocipede: It's not what it sounds like

Before there was the bicycle, there was the "Velocipede." It sounds like some kind of freakish hybrid cross between a velociraptor and a centipede, but it definitely isn’t. And I am glad because that kind of horrendous monster shouldn’t exist.

Styles of German velocipedes

The name was coined by the Frenchman Nicéphore Niépce, who also was one of the forefathers of photography.  The term velocipede is a general term used to describe any of the precursors to the bicycle bewtween 1817 and the 1880s.  Early velocipedes could have anywhere from one to five wheels and were generally made of wooden frames and metal wheels.  It must have hurt horribly to ride one down a cobblestone street…They even got the nickname “boneshaker” because of the horrible jostling that would take place when ridden. 

Patent for velocipede

Eventually, the two-wheeled design won out and we get the term “bicycle.”  “Ordinaries,” or the ones with the huge front wheel, were soon replaced by “safety bicycles” which are similar to the bikes we ride today.  Dayton was a bicyclist’s dream.  It had wide avenues and nicely constructed roads and paths, and it seemed like everyone had a bike.

 The Wright Brothers loved them some bikes too.  As we all, hopefully, know, the Wrights had a cycle shop in which they sold parts and accessories, repaired bikes, and built some of their own.  When Orville was younger he entered and won a lot of bicycle races around Dayton. Between his bike racing, airplane flying, and excessive automobile speeds in Oakwood, Orville was clearly quite the speed-demon.

Ed Sines and Orville workin' on some bikes 

Cycling is making quite the comeback in larger cities around the nation, including Dayton.  With the implementation of the Link bicycle system, you don’t even need your own bike to ride around Dayton in style. Make sure you pack your bowler hat and mustache for the ride!

Sources:

Records of the Patent and Trademark Office, National Archives.