Bicycle Coloring Page: Free Printable PDF Sheet for Kids

Bicycle: History & Fun Facts

The Bone-Shaker and the First Practical Bikes

Early 1800s bicycles had no pedals at all and were pushed along by walking, earning nicknames like the running machine, until pedals attached directly to the front wheel appeared in the 1860s on bikes riders called bone-shakers because of their stiff iron-tired ride. The safety bicycle of the 1880s introduced a chain-driven rear wheel and two equal-sized wheels, giving the modern bicycle shape still used today.

How the Chain and Gears Turn Pedaling Into Speed

Pushing the pedals spins a toothed sprocket that pulls the chain, which wraps around a matching sprocket on the rear wheel and makes it turn, converting leg power into forward motion far more efficiently than walking. Multi-speed bikes add several sprockets of different sizes so a rider can shift to an easier gear on hills or a harder gear for speed on flat ground.

Bicycles as Everyday Transportation Worldwide

In many cities around the world, bicycles remain a primary way people commute to work or school because they need no fuel, produce no exhaust, and can weave through traffic that would stall a car. A basket mounted over the front or rear wheel, like the one on this page, turns a bike into a practical way to carry groceries, books, or small packages on a short trip.