Tag: Faster

The bicycle was introduced in the 19th century in Europe by German Inventor Karl von Drais. He is credited with developing the first bicycle. He introduced it to the people in Paris in 1818. It is supposed to originate from the human-powered vehicle called Draisines. Drais invented a walking machine that would help him get around the royal gardens faster. It was known by many names, including the “velocipede,” “dandy horse,” “hobby-horse,” “draisine” and “running machine. It had no pedals and its frame was a wooden beam. It had two same-size in-line wheels with the front one steerable and mounted in a frame which was straddled. In 1839, Kirkpatrick MacMillan, a Scottish blacksmith, allegedly completed construction of a pedal driven…

Have you wondered why bicycle wheels come in different sizes? Why some models of mountain bikes have a choice of 26 inch diameter or 29 inch diameter rims? Do you know your rotational energy from your gyroscopic stability?  The bike is a fascinating, ongoing physics experiment. In its simple terms, to move forwards you’re only adding the physical capabilities of the body to the relative simplicity of the mechanical advantage gained whilst pedalling.  From this template, it’s been relatively simple for boffins to experiment, research and develop those terms learned in science lessons. They’re investigating acceleration, air and wind resistance, inertia, aerodynamics and friction.  But then lower-cost testing by passionate enthusiasts out of a Californian garage and an accident of…