Retro bicycles: from invention to the present day

The bike market is so big that you canTo get confused among a variety of categories in offers of shops (mountain, city, "tourist", "two-pendant", BMH). And there is a division of the types and subspecies in each of the groups. If we compare the design, then in it from the models of the past centuries, by and large, there remained only a schematic diagram (the presence of two wheels, frame and saddle). What were the first retro bicycles, how much time did they change?

History of invention

Mentions about the prototype mechanism, remotelyreminiscent of a bicycle on two wheels, according to unconfirmed reports, are still in the documentary chronicles dating from 1791. Those first retro bicycles (the photo is placed just below) did not have pedals, they were set in motion by a person when pushing away from the ground. In fact, they were scooters, but not usual for us, but with a saddle.

The official patent for this invention wasCarl for Dres in 1818. For a year or more before that, he designed the first wooden "walking machine" and successfully adapted it for movement. By our standards, it can be classified as "runovel." That device in honor of the inventor has received the name "drezin". It had two identical wheels, of which the front could turn the steering wheel. The saddle on the frame was located at a height, which makes it possible to push off the legs on both sides with walking movements and, if possible, sit, rolling after the acceleration.

The first bicycle

Serious improvement can be consideredappearance of pedals. In 1840, they were first mounted by a blacksmith from Scotland. Pedals worked on the lever principle. The effort was transmitted by connecting rods, like the old steam locomotives, to the rear wheel.

Pedals on the front axle, working on the principle ofrotation, patented in 1853 by the Frenchman Pierre Michaud. At the same time, a saddle with spring shock absorbers and a brake appeared in the design. After appeared spokes in the wheel (1867) and the prototype of the chain transmission (1868). At this time in Paris, the first retro bicycles participated in official races at a distance of 2 km.

Then the fashion for bicycles-spiders has gone. This design was distinguished by a large front wheel. Pedals rigidly attached to the axis. The large diameter of the rim made the bicycle a dangerous mode of transport. Its height could reach one and a half meters and more. But the speed could be developed up to 30 km / h. True, irregularities on the road represented serious problems for management.

Important improvements

At the next stage of development, a retro-bike witha large wheel in front equipped with a chain drive. The pedals were placed on the frame, and the rear wheel became the leading one. The first safe "baysiklet" (as inventor H.Lawson called it) had two identical wheels (1885).

In the future, a rubber tire appeared on the rim(1889) with a valve and air pressure in it. The shape of the frame (rhomboid) has changed, it has become more like modern models. In the next decade ball bearings were added to the design. The frame was made of thin-walled pipes. There was a pedal brake and a gear change.

With the development of technology began to be introduced inbicycle industry new materials. In 1974, titanium and carbon-fiber frames appeared in the models. And in the 1990s, index systems for rapid speed switching became very popular.

Technical progress in Russia

At the end of the XIX century, retro bicycles were not onlyin the private possessions of wealthy urban residents, but even listed on the balance of municipal services. Doctors prescribed a newfangled passion for getting rid of the spleen caused by the change of the seasons of the year, to strengthen the spine and as a means for overall strengthening the body.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the bicycle was widely usedsmall officials for traveling. Two-wheeled "bicyclet" was in the course of postmen, clerks, messengers. Three-wheeled bicycles (tricycles) were used for the transportation of goods, and two-sided twin-hitch tandems with four driving riders were used to transport the sick and wounded.

Retro bicycles of the USSR

Soviet industry after the revolution some kind oftime was stagnant. But the bicycles continued to be produced. Accessories were imported from England. Production was established at the Kharkov Bicycle Plant (HVZ). A little later the designers were able to arrange the release of their own parts. The retro bicycles of the Soviet Union were simple and practical, they were produced without excesses and increased comfort.

After the ruin of the Civil War, only from the middle20-ies of the last century, their production resumed. At the same HVZ, after the restoration of production capacity, the popular "Ukraine" model was produced. The first children's two-wheeled model was released in 1936 on the "Leningrad Metalworker". In addition to these two enterprises, work was carried out at the Moscow and Minsk bicycle plants, at ZiSe and GAZ. In the Lithuanian SSR, at the Siauliai VMZ, the teen model "Eaglet" was released.

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