Cycling

Whoosh. The wind tickles your cheeks as the world zips by in a blur of green grass and blue sky. Can you hear that. It’s the happy whirring sound of wheels spinning round and round. Your feet go push-push-push, and suddenly you are flying, free as a bird soaring through the neighborhood. You feel strong and full of joy, like you could ride all the way to the moon and back. This amazing feeling of freedom and fun has a name. I am Cycling. And I'm the wonderful adventure you have every time you ride a bicycle.

My story begins a long, long time ago, even before your great-great-grandparents were born. It all started with a clever German man named Karl von Drais. On a sunny day, June 12th, 1817, he showed everyone his new invention, a 'running machine'. It was my very first shape. I was made of wood and had two wheels, just like today, but something was missing. I had no pedals. To move, people had to sit on my seat and push off the ground with their feet, like they were scooting. It was fun, but it took a lot of work. Many years later, in the 1860s, some smart inventors in France, like a man named Pierre Michaux, had a brilliant idea. They decided to add pedals right onto my front wheel. Now people could push with their feet without touching the ground. It was a great change, but my wheels were made of wood or metal, which made for a very bumpy ride. People even gave me a funny nickname: the 'boneshaker'. Ouch.

After my 'boneshaker' days, I went through a very funny-looking phase in the 1870s. I became the 'penny-farthing'. Imagine a bicycle with a front wheel as tall as your dad and a back wheel as tiny as a dinner plate. People had to climb way up high to ride me. I was super fast because one push of the pedals on that giant wheel sent you flying. But I was also very wobbly and tricky. If you hit a bump, you could tumble a long way down. It was time for another big idea. In 1885, an English inventor named John Kemp Starley changed everything. He created the 'safety bicycle'. He gave me two wheels that were the same size, which made me much easier to balance. He also added a chain that connected the pedals to the back wheel, which made me easier to push. The best part was the new tires filled with air. No more bumpy rides. I was finally safe, comfortable, and ready for everyone to enjoy.

Today, you can find me everywhere. I am the shiny red bike with training wheels that you first learn to ride. I am the mountain bike that explores bumpy trails in the woods. I am the sleek racing bike that zips through big races like the Tour de France. I help families have fun together on weekend rides in the park, and I help you get to school or a friend’s house. Riding me is a wonderful way to exercise and keep your body healthy and strong. And because I don't use gas, I help keep our planet’s air clean and fresh. Every time you hop on a bike and feel the wind on your face, you are part of my amazing story. Where will we explore together next?