A bicycle, also known as a bicycle or cycle, is an individual-powered or pedal-controlled, single-wheeled, fixed-rate vehicle, with two wheels attached to an overhead frame, one behind another. A bicycle rider, usually called a biker, or cyclist, is generally defined as someone who cycles for exercise or for pleasure. Most bicycle riders are of the young age between fifteen and forty years old, although it is also seen that younger children or teens ride bicycles as well. A bicycle is a practicality in getting from one place to another, since it can be easily maneuvered in narrow pathways or winding roads. Moreover, it can be used for recreational purposes as well, such as for traveling to a nearby park or grocery store.
The majority of bicycles have been designed and built with a single seat and a standard frame style, with the exception of mountain bicycles which tend to be two-wheeled. Typically, most bicycles have a freewheel, which is a chain that runs between the pedals and the rear wheel, allowing the rider to coast or reverse smoothly and easily. A freewheel is usually powered by a chain saw, similar to those used on a skateboard or scooter. Although the design was originally derived from utility bicycles, when people began to recognize the value that the single-wheeled bicycle had for commuting, it was soon adopted by bikers as well. Today, a freewheel bicycle often has two wheels.
A bicycle with a fixed wheel structure, a bicycle with a freewheel and a bicycle with a coaster brake is sometimes referred to as a “velocipede.” These bicycles have been around since the mid-eighteen hundreds and were originally developed as cross-country sports bicycles. The first velocipedes were made for racing, not for commuting. Invented by businessman Maxim pocketing the money for the first prototype, these early velocipedes were designed to be very maneuverable, which allowed them to outmaneuver their competitors.
The first velocipedes were made primarily for racing, using a single wheel design and a very narrow seat which allowed for very narrow pedals. The two-wheeled versions were not developed until the nineteen hundreds, when technology started to advance the technologies used for racing began to advance as well. In the late nineteen seventies a sport was developed for people who wanted to ride a bicycle in a race but who did not have the time to build up a substantial battery. Velocipedes are a type of sport bike that use a single rear wheel for propulsion rather than two wheels, like two-wheeled racers. It was these velocipedes that were named after the French word “velocipede,” which means “one swift motion.”
Because of the popularity of these one-wheel riders, and the need for more advanced technology, manufacturers went to great lengths to make two-wheeled velocipedes. The first of these was the Gixxer, which was a souped up version of the velocipede. The next models added more technology to the already excellent mechanisms that were already available on the market, making the bicycle into something that was faster, stronger, and more maneuverable than ever. The Gixxer quickly became a favorite among cycling enthusiasts.
However, a lot of people don’t realize that a contemporary bicycle is not really a velocipede at all! A bicycle is really just a bicycle, with the ability to fold down into a smaller and more manageable size. A contemporary bicycle is an actual physical object, and it is usually constructed with some amount of motor in it. Many cyclists just refer to these bicycles as “speed bikes” or “bikes,” so they are sometimes also referred to as velocipeds.