Michaux Velocipede

Historians agree that the French firm of Michaux was responsible for developing the first commercially viable version of a two-wheeled, human-powered bicycle: the Velocipede. When it was demonstrated at the Paris Exhibition of 1867, the Velocipede brought worldwide attention to the concept of cycling.

The 1867 Michaux Velocipede represents the origins of present-day cycling.

To mount the Velocipede, you put one foot on the left pedal and pushed off as you climbed onto the seat (just as you would mount a modern-day bicycle). Alternatively, you could run along beside the machine, vault into the saddle and then find your pedals — although there were obvious risks to this method.

The big difference between the Velocipede and a today’s bike was that you pedalled the front wheel directly.

This arrangement significantly affected the steering: each time you pushed down on a pedal, the Velocipede tended to veer in that direction. You had to learn to compensate for this tendency by turning slightly one way and then the other as you pedalled. But you also had to be careful not to turn the wheel too fast or too far, since this could knock your feet off the pedals and lead to a crash.

Despite the fact that a typical Velocipede weighed between 55 and 60 pounds (25 and 27 kg), you could reach average speeds of 7 or 8 miles an hour (11-13 km/hr) on flat terrain. You could go even faster coasting downhill, with your feet on the rests in front of the handlebars, using the spoon brake to slow down.

The pleasure of the experience wouldn’t last long, however, as every bump in the road was transferred to your body through the machine’s thin iron tires, wooden wheels and solid iron frame. In English, the Velocipede was known as the Boneshaker.