There is no clear cut answer as to who invented the bicycle. There is agreement that the modern bicycle was developed in France by father and son Pierre and Ernest Michaux, who invented the modern bicycle pedal and cranks in the year 1861. However there is recent evidence attesting to the possibility that the bicycle in a more rudimentary form existed prior to that year.

One type of pre-bicycle was created by the German Baron Karl Drais von Sauerbronn. His device was called the “Laufmaschine” meaning “Running Machine.” It could be steered, was made completely out of wood, and the rider pushed his feet against the ground to move forward. This creation was on exhibit in Paris in 1818. An even earlier almost-bicycle called the celerifere was similar, but was not steerable. It was invented in 1790 by the Frenchman Comte Mede de Sivrac.

The first truly efficient bicycle was known as the “Penny Farthing” or the “High” or “Ordinary” bicycle. The first was invented by the English engineer James Starley in 1871. The Penny Farthing was designed with a small back wheel and a large front wheel. The front wheel turned on a simple tubular frame, and the tires of the bicycle were made of rubber.