There are 60 million of these things in the U.S. alone, they have helped win wars, and Susan B. Anthony believed they did more to emancipate women than anything else ...
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There are 60 million of these things in the U.S. alone, they have helped win wars, and Susan B. Anthony believed they did more to emancipate women than anything else in the world – by getting them to shed their corsets and bustles in favor of pants. What in the world are we talking about? The bike! In this issue, kids will get all the facts on this wheeled wonder, from its invention in 1817 by a German baron to the high-tech, speedy cruisers of today. After reviewing the basics – how a bike works – kids will delve into its history, starting with the birth of the wheel in 3500 B.C. and zooming up to the late 1800s, when the bike really took off.
Then it’s off to the races! From the first cycling competition, in 1883, to the modern-day Tour de France, people have always enjoyed pushing bikes – and themselves – to the limits. Kids will be surprised to learn that cycling races were once more popular than baseball games. Design-wise, they’ll see how the bicycle has undergone numerous transformations – some practical, like the addition of gears and brakes – and some fanciful, like the unicycle. Bikes at work are also featured, including India’s three-wheeled pedicabs and the mountain bikes many cops use today. Rolling along, they’ll find out how a bike works wonders for the environment, get tips on riding safely, and learn the rules of the road – and bike path.
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