What is a velocipede?
Velocipede is a word applied to any kind of carriage driven by the feet and formerly to bicycles and tricycles. The name was first used in France toward the end of the 18th century, when riding on the dandy horse became popular. The two wheels of the dandy horse were of equal size, connected by a bar, on which a saddle was placed, and astride which the rider sat. The impetus was given by the rider's feet touching the ground. Propulsion was next attempted by pulling levers with the hands or treading with the feet. In this kind of velocipede there were three wheels; but on account of the labor involved it never became very popular. In the year 1868 the bicycle was introduced into the United States. This velocipede, as the name implies, consisted of two wheels. The rider sat on a saddle connected with the backbone and propelled himself by pressing his feet on pedals at the ends of cranks which turned the wheel. It was a great improvement on the dandy horse; but, owing to the heavy weight of the machine, faulty bearings, and the vibration — which was so great that this form of the velocipede acquired the name of " bone-shaker " — the bicycle never became really very popular until the introduction of rubber tires.
