Karl von Drais

Hello! My name is Karl. I lived a long, long time ago in a place called Germany. I was an inventor, which means I loved to make new things. My head was always buzzing with ideas, like little bees flying all around. I was always thinking about new machines that could help people go places and do things. I loved figuring out how to put pieces together to create something brand new. It was my favorite thing to do in the whole wide world.

My very favorite invention was my running machine. I made it in the year 1817. In my language, I called it a 'Laufmaschine,' which means 'running machine.' It was a wonderful machine! It had two wheels, one in the front and one in the back, and a seat for me to sit on. But guess what? It had no pedals! To make it go, you had to push your feet on the ground. You would push, push, push, and then you could lift your feet and zoooom! It was a whole new way to get from one place to another.

My running machine was like the very first seed that grew into the amazing bicycles you see today. My idea was just the beginning, and now everyone rides bikes for fun and exercise. I lived to be 66 years old. My life was full of happy ideas, and I am so glad that my invention still makes people happy. Every time you ride a bike, you are using a little piece of my big idea.