Wheels of the Common-man.

* Early bicycles were called as high-wheelers, and in England, they were called penny farthings. 

The two wheels were not of the same sizes just like the penny and the farthing coins.


* The prior patents for specific devices and improvements to bicycles were almost $15 per bike.
U.S entrepreneur Albert Pope gained all patents to have control of costs of them.




* Initially,women's bicycles had side saddles with the pedals only on the left, to make it easier for women wearing skirts to ride.

* By 1890, the 'safety bicycle' ,with two small wheels of equal size, a chain drive and gears replaced the high-wheelers.


* In Asia, bicycles began to arrive during the first boom in the 1860s. Japanese bicycle manufacturing industry developed during the 1870s.

* Even in 1899, few automobiles had been built, and horses and carriages were so expensive that they can hardly be maintained in the crowded cities. Ultimately, bicycles gained in popularity.

* S.A.A Annamalai Chettiar manufactured the 'Swan' bicycles in India in 1925, amid stiff competition from imports. Hind Cycles in Mumbai also manufactured bikes.

* Swan cycles closed and Hind Cycles struggled against competition. 

After an array of negotiations, TI Cycles of India (Chennai) embarked on indigenous bicycle manufacturing and ended up in building a factory by 1951. 


Another major collaborative venture, Sen-Raleigh in Asansol was motivated by the motto of building 100000 bicycles in 1952. Others joined the fray.



* Like every Indust
ry, the Cycle Industry has also improved greatly and today, cycles with gears,disk-brakes etc are available.