EPISODE · Aug 20, 2026 · 11 MIN
What is the history of bicycles?
from History for Kids / History's Not Boring: The Kids History Podcast · host SCL
Did you know that the invention of the bicycle actually started with a massive, earth-shaking volcano? It’s true! When a giant eruption in 1815 blocked out the sun and made it too cold to grow food for horses, people desperately needed a brand new way to travel! Join Mira and Finn on an amazing journey to discover the wild and wacky history of bicycles. You won't believe what the very first bikes looked like! Imagine trying to ride a fifty-pound wooden balance bike with absolutely no pedals, or taking a ride on a heavy iron-wheeled contraption nicknamed "The Boneshaker" that literally rattled riders' teeth! We’ll also learn how brave cyclists managed to climb onto giant five-foot-tall Penny Farthing bicycles without falling off, and discover how a dad invented squishy, air-filled rubber tires just to cure his son’s headaches! Plus, find out how kids in California invented BMX by racing their bikes on dirt motorcycle tracks, and hear the mind-blowing story of a woman who rode a custom bicycle at a whopping 183 miles per hour! Hop on and let’s pedal through history!
Embed this episode
What this episode covers
Did you know that the invention of the bicycle actually started with a massive, earth-shaking volcano? It’s true! When a giant eruption in 1815 blocked out the sun and made it too cold to grow food for horses, people desperately needed a brand new way to travel! Join Mira and Finn on an amazing journey to discover the wild and wacky history of bicycles. You won't believe what the very first bikes looked like! Imagine trying to ride a fifty-pound wooden balance bike with absolutely no pedals...
Ready to play
What is the history of bicycles?
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
No similar episodes found.
Similar Podcasts
No similar podcasts found.