eople chose the bicycle for its simplicity of design, universal use and durability.  The bicycle is the only ecologically sound means of transport ever invented.  Yet because of this simplicity it was ignored. Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks shows that he sketched a facsimile of the modern bicycle in 1490. But like many of his visionary ideas, this one too never left the drawing aboard.  However, some people say this sketch is a forgery.  As for the real inventor of bicycle there never has been any conclusive answer to this vexed question.

The current thinking is that it more or less evolved over a period of 50 years, during the first half of 19th century, ever since a German, Baron Karl Drais von Sauerbronn, invented the “Laufmaschine” or “Running Machine”, a type of pre-bicycle. Later, Pierre and Ernest Michaux, the French father and son team of carriage-makers, invented the first practical bicycle during the 1860s. In 1885, in England, John Kemp Starley produced the first successful safety bicycle, called the “Rover”.  The word Rover came from the machine on which people roved over the countryside.  It featured two equal sized wheels and a chain drive to the rear wheel. It was widely imitated. Meanwhile, in 1888, John Boyd Dunlop introduced pneumatic tyres to the wheels, instead of solid rubber tyres. It made for a much smoother ride. Some people also credit an English mechanic Macmillan for making an improved version. However, since 1890 there has been hardly any worthwhile improvement on the bicycle.  It remains basically what it was in 1888. As a tribute to this great invention, this home produced bicycle is on display.