1. When did the first modern bicycle appear?

If the previous "bicycle" is more of a prototype, then in 1885 (the 11th year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty), the first modern bicycle was produced in Britain!

Want to see it?In the 1969 film poster for the multi-Oscar winning Butch Cassidy and the Kid, the couple rode the first modern version of the bike, called the "Safe".  

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2. French nickname for a bicycle

The French have a strong attachment to cycling, not only with the Tour de France, Paris-Roubaix and many other popular races, but also with the nickname La Petite Reine.

In 2014, there was a film about cycling in Canada with the same title, which you can also search for, and the Chinese translation of the film is "Queen of Speed".

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3. The first golden age of bicycles

The last decade of the 19th century was the first golden age of bicycle development,known as the "glorious nineties".

Many metallurgical technology workers gave up their original jobs to join the bicycle factory, so popular.

In 1895, 800,000 bicycles were produced in the UK each year, and at the Stanley Bicycle Show in London, more than 200 exhibitors showcased more than 3,000 models. 

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4. The world's first international sports superstar

Cycling pales in comparison to the star power of international sports stars.

But more than 100 years ago, the first international sports superstar to claim the title was a cyclist.

Arthur Zimmerman has won more than 1,000 bicycle races on three continents, including the first world cycling championship in Chicago in 1893.

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5. The records from over 100 years ago

More than 100 years ago, bicycles were made of steel frame, without gearshift, flywheel or brake.

The average household weight was about 15KG, while the bicycle used for racing was already less than 10KG, which was not too heavy compared with today.

Let's take a look at the records of that time: In 1891, the record for 24-hour non-stop cycling was 577km.

By 1893, riders were breaking 60 kilometers per hour.

In 1899, cycled the mile in 57 seconds with a broken motorcycle.

From these data, it is not difficult to see that more than 100 years ago, the development level of bicycles in Europe was quite high.

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6. Start time of each competition

With the widespread use of bicycles at that time, for the first time in history, all men, women, young and old, tall and thin, could afford to ride and get on the bike.

Thus, all kinds of cycling clubs & bicycle races were born.

In 1892, the race of Liege - Bastonne - Liege appeared.

In 1893, the first world cycling championships.

1896 "Inferno Nord" was held in Paris-Roubaix0.

1903 The Tour de France opened.

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7. Why were bikes so popular then

The emergence of the bicycle, more than 100 years ago, was once considered one of the greatest inventions of mankind, the influence of which is hard to feel today, countless writers, poets, and even sports leaders have endorsed it...

1. Bicycles allow ordinary people to travel farther, increasing population mobility.

2. No matter men or women, old or young, tall or short, fat or thin, can enjoy the convenience and pleasure brought by bicycle.

3. Breaking rigid class barriers, bicycles are so popular that the clothes, customs, and rules that used to define different classes are all gone, leaving only the identity of the rider when riding on the bike.

The emergence of bicycles has promoted gender equality and women's liberation.Women were able to ride bikes and go around the world just like women, which gave them a sense of freedom and confidence.

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 Article reference resources: 
 Rob Penn ▪ [It's All About the Bike: The Pursuit of Happiness on Two Wheels]