Happy World Bicycle Day! The first bicycle was known as the Dandy Horse, and was invented in Germany in 1817. It was made almost entirely of wood and weighed 48 pounds. It also had no pedals – instead you would push it with your feet while steering the front wheel. In the 1860s, several French inventors introduced prototypes with pedals attached to the front wheel. Later, models with an oversized front wheel were developed. These were called “penny-farthings”, and though they weren’t the easiest to ride, they gave rise to the first bicycle clubs and competitive races. In 1885, the bicycle as we know it was developed, with equal-sized wheels and a chain drive. Today, there are many more bikes than cars, with around 100 million bikes manufactured worldwide each year. Learn more in the audio below.