ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

History of cycling

Okay kiddo, let's talk about the history of cycling. You know how you love riding your bike and going on adventures? Well, people have been doing that for a very long time!

A long, long time ago, people didn't have bicycles like we do now. They had to walk or ride horses if they wanted to go somewhere far away. But in the early 1800s, a man named Baron von Drais invented something called a "running machine." It was made out of wood, and it had two wheels and a seat, but you had to push yourself along with your feet. It was kind of like a scooter, but without the handlebars.

Then, in the 1860s, something amazing happened. A man named Pierre Michaux invented the first bicycle with pedals! It was called the "velocipede," and people loved it. They could ride it faster than they could run, and it was so much fun!

Soon, other inventors started making their own bicycles, and they kept getting better and better. Bicycles became very popular in Europe and America, especially among young people. They would go on "bicycle tours" and explore new places, just like you like to do!

In the early 1900s, bicycles started to change again. They got lighter and faster, and people started racing them. The Tour de France, which is a famous bicycle race that happens every year, started in 1903.

Nowadays, bicycles are a really important mode of transportation. People use them to get to work or school, to exercise, and to have fun. There are all different kinds of bicycles, from mountain bikes to road bikes to BMX bikes.

So there you have it, kiddo - the history of cycling. Next time you go for a ride on your bike, think about all the people who came before you and how far bicycles have come over the years!
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