We have a large collection of bicycles at Streetlife Museum, dating back to some of the earliest inventions. Our collection includes a Boneshaker, an Ordinary and an 1818 Hobby Horse.
The invention of the bicycle was revolutionary for millions of people. It continues to have an important place in everyday life even today. The first examples were uncomfortable and difficult to ride. But as they evolved, bicycles proved to be popular means of transport for everyone.
Come and explore the history of the bicycle and its links to Hull.
Inventing a new mode of transport
The idea of a man-powered vehicle exercised the minds of amateur engineers since at least 1750. Early experiments took the form of three- or four-wheeled light carriages. These were driven by hand cranks and foot treadles, or sometimes both.
In 1817, Baron Carl Von Drais invented the Hobby Horse – the ancestor of the modern bicycle! The Drais machine was very different from earlier experiments. His had only two wheels, one behind the other. And instead of using hand cranks and levels, the rider pushed with his feet on the ground. It was also easier to steer because the rider's hands were no longer needed to drive the cycle forward.
A bar held in the hands (handlebar) was attached to a pivoting fork and used to turn the front wheel while moving. The rider's elbows rested on the padded platform behind the handlebar, which helped balance the cycle.
Popularity with the people
As a novelty, the Hobby Horse was an instant success among the fashionable societies of London and Paris. But it was much too expensive for working-class people. It could also only be easily ridden on level ground, so its popularity was short-lived.
But the history of the bicycle doesn't end there. Many more developments happened between the Hobby Horse and the kinds of bikes we have today. Visit us to explore this long and fascinating history of invention!
