Winner of the 2004 Award for Excellence in the History of Science sponsored by the Professional and Scholarly Publishing Division of the Association of American Publishers

Winner of the 2005 Sally Hacker Prize sponsored by the Society for the History of Technology

In the twenty-first century we have all experienced new technologies that promise to change our lives. During the nineteenth century, the bicycle evoked an exciting new world in which even a poor person could travel afar and at will. But was the mechanical horse truly destined to usher in a new era of road travel or would it remain merely a plaything for dandies and schoolboys?

In this, the definitive history of the bicycle, David Herlihy recounts the saga of this far-reaching invention and the passions it aroused. The pioneer racer James Moore insisted the bicycle would become as common as umbrellas. Mark Twain was more skeptical, enjoining his readers to get a bicycle. You will not regret it: if you live.

Because we live in an age of cross-country bicycle racing and high-tech mountain bikes, we may overlook the decades of development and ingenuity that transformed the basic concept of human-powered transportation into a marvel of engineering. This lively and engrossing history retraces the extraordinary story of the bicycle; a history of disputed patents, brilliant inventions, and missed opportunities. Herlihy shows us why the bicycle captured the public's imagination and the myriad ways in which it reshaped our world.

"Mr. Herlihy concentrates on [the bicycle's] social history, especially its manufacturers and riders. Culling from the popular press, he builds a very readable account of the public perception of the bicycle as it moved from one stage to another. The book is also one of the best-illustrated histories I have ever seen. It is a delight to leaf through." Wall Street Journal

"Fun and informative." Baltimore Sun

"A work of real scholarly integrity, towering above most alternatives of the genre....Herlihy's style and presentation make sagas of legal struggles and technical design fascinating to any reader. Peppered throughout with lovely illustrations and boasting an impressive index, Bicycle should serve as the standard in years to come." The Ride Magazine

"Abundant primary and secondary materials...lavish use of illustrations. The visuals are reason enough to spend hours with this book....The book more than lives up to its billing as 'definitive.'" Sunday Oregonian

"A copiously illustrated history of one of the most efficient and utilitarian machines of all time — perfect for any serious cyclist." Seattle Times