velocipede . . .
What's a velocipede? You might ask. If you're good with French or Latin roots, you probably already are thinking fast feet, quick foot, or something along that line. Well, there are modern, ultra-modern, and 19th century velocipedes. Most of them have two wheels, but some have or had 3 or 4. So that complicates the clue. They usually have pedals . . . But, what's a velocipede. Read on intrepid reader, read on. Is it a really fast insect? Like a turbo-charged centipede or millipede? Um, No.
The most famous early velocipede had a really large front wheel, and a tiny rear wheel. You've seen them in movies. The latest in velocipede technology has a streamlined carbon fiber shell and a windshield. You've probably already guessed it by now. The Frenchman who invented the first velocipede gave it that name, and the name was used from the Victorian Era until the early Twentieth Century for an amazingly interesting menagerie of pedal powered vehicles, and a few powered by hand pumping, cranks, or what not, even one steam powered.
There was the big front wheel bicycle, the three and four wheeled contraption with one or two seats, a railroad track inspector's velocipede with a third side wheel to run on the opposite track. As I just mentioned, there was even a steam powered velocipede which is on display at the Smithsonian where they ask the question, "Was this the first motorcycle?" A number of the early pedal powered vehicles had a pretty rough ride on iron or wood wheels, and no brakes. For these reasons, some of them were called "bone-shakers".
With the invention of rubber tires, and friction brakes, velocipedes became a lot more comfortable and safe to ride, and they became so popular that they lost their original French name, and came to be known as bicycles. But, now the old name is making a come back, and being used for two, three, and four wheeled cycles often pedaled from a reclining position. You might have seen one on the roads, I have. But some of the top of the line carbon fiber models sell for a hefty 13 to 14 thousand. Personally, I think I'll keep my bicycle . . .
