The Velocipede
Contents
Surveys early velocipede history from Niepce's letters of 1818 through patented designs, comparing the effort of walking versus riding a wheeled machine.
p. 3
Describes a succession of patented velocipede mechanisms and treadle-driven carriages from the 1820s through the 1860s, illustrated with diagrams.
p. 5
Reproduces correspondence from Claude Niepce discussing early velocipede designs, tracing the machine's origins to its French and English inventors.
p. 6
Examines how the two-wheeled velocipede evolved toward the modern bicycle, discussing balance, steering, treadle action, and comparative speed and effort.
p. 7
Describes the tricycle as safer for timid riders and reviews the contemporary velocipede market, with sizing guidance and advice on learning to ride.
p. 10
Provides practical sizing tables, tips on maintaining balance, and encouragement to beginners based on the rapid progress most riders achieve.
p. 27
Step-by-step instruction for mounting and riding, covering balance recovery, pedal use, and the different configurations of ladies' and gentlemen's tricycles.
p. 30
Concludes with observations on the cost of velocipedes as a barrier to adoption and enthusiastic first-hand accounts of rapid progress by new riders.
p. 31