Whether on two wheels or four, bikes have played a particularly liberating part in human history, allowing people to cover ground quickly and tackle many different types of terrain. Whilst pedal power is still popular, particularly amongst those who want to reduce their carbon footprint, there are also many who prefer bikes with a beefy engine strapped on and lightning fast top speeds to rival the supercars of this world.
Bikes, which rely on the legwork of the rider alone, still come in several varieties. Road and racing bikes tend to have thin wheels, incredibly light frames and a riding position that keeps the user in the most aerodynamic arrangement to maximise speed over tarmac surfaces. Mountain bikes on the other hand have chunky frames coupled with suspension to soak up rocky terrain and deal with jumps. These are off road beasts that are used competitively across courses spanning some tough environments. BMX bikes are particularly popular amongst younger riders as their small form factor, single speed set up and manageable price makes them perfect for tricking in an urban environment or at skate parks. However, BMX along with mountain biking, is an off road pursuit in its origins, with purpose built dirt courses setting it up like motorcross but without the petrol power.
There are several types of bike to consider when looking at the motorised variety. From superbikes to scooters and mopeds there are options for people of all abilities and budgets. There are also quad bikes, which have four large wheels and are favoured by farmers who want a vehicle that is versatile and lets them cover uneven ground quickly. Whilst riding a standard pedal powered bike does not require a licence you will need to complete tests in order to qualify for a motorbike driving licence, with different licences granting you access to different road vehicles. However, driving on private land does not require this type of certification, which is why you can go on an adventure holiday and hop on a quad bike without getting caught in too much red tape.
The bike has a long history dating back to the 1800s. It can be traced back to Germany where a two wheeled means of personal conveyance called the draisine, or Dandy Horse, was invented in 1817. There has been evidence of people considering two wheeled bike-style contraptions over three hundred years earlier, although little remains of this early work.
As the bicycle was developed in the 19th century it went through several changes, with wheels added by some inventors and the much loved Penny-farthing design dreamed up by the 1880s, as impractical as it may seem today. By the dawn of the 20th century the idea of using a chain to drive the rear wheel, which is still used to this day, was becoming established and the particularly stiff, uncomfortable and unsafe rides offered by the early cycles were becoming a distant memory.
The arrival of the motorcar in the early decades of the last century almost made the bicycle obsolete and mass production of cars meant that people began to see bikes as toys for the children rather than as a mode of transport for adults. However, a resurgence in the popularity of bikes as road became crowded and mountain bikes becoming popular meant that from the early 1980s, the bike was back on track to become a household necessity.
