The Bicycle - Francesco Baroni

The bicycle has come a long way since its earliest origins. The sleek, carbon-fiber vehicles of today bear little resemblance to their cumbersome, makeshift forebears. This splendidly illustrated volume traces the evolution of the bicycle and spotlights landmarks in this illustrious history. First conceptualized in the 1490s in sketches by a student of Leonardo da Vinci's, and making an appearance as a hand-cranked tricycle created in 1680 to convey its inventor to and from church, the first truly recognizable bicycles emerged in 1817 in the form of a walking machine named "The Drasienne" after its inventor. Hundreds of archival photographs and illustrations depict the features of this and other early ancestors of the modern bicycle, accompanying a text that vividly recreates the excitement of each new innovation.From the High Wheel bicycles that had their heyday in the 1880s to the high-tech racing bicycles of today, from the development of ball bearings and pneumatic tires to the development of state-of-the-art all terrain bikes with waffle tread tires and heavier frames, "The Bicycle" examines the models and components that have been the fulfillment of the dreams of visionary inventors. Through text and photographs, readers will meet the key players in the world of cycling and gain an understanding of the role of the bicycle in many different fields, ranging from recreation to professional sport, fashion and design.