Buzz
In the Victorian era, cycling represented liberation and self-sufficiency at an affordable price. Women adopted specialized cycling attire that provided ease of movement while maintaining decorum under their lengthy, voluminous skirts. Men pedaled in their top hats, children rode tricycles, and infants were transported in pushchairs attached to bicycles, which nannies used to stroll through parks. Even delivery boys carried groceries on bikes equipped with large wicker baskets.
Cycling was a universal activity, emerging as one of the most iconic Victorian passions.
The Victorians were also renowned for their inventive, often eccentric creations. It was inevitable that their curiosity would lead them to merge these two interests.
Below are 10 of the most peculiar examples.
10. John Otto Lose and His Monowheel
John Otto Lose’s monowheel patent depicts a man in a hat, comfortably seated on a bench inside a massive wheel, casually smoking a cigarette as he pedals a smaller wheel positioned at an awkward and seemingly uncomfortable angle. Steering was achieved using dual rudders on each side, giving it the appearance of a land-based boat.
This somewhat cumbersome bicycle featured several modern conveniences, such as an overhead umbrella for rainy weather and intricate wrought-iron designs that, while aesthetically pleasing, likely increased the machine’s weight. However, the use of an unpadded wooden bench likely offset some of that added bulk.
Patented in 1885, the monowheel never gained widespread popularity for reasons that remain unclear.
9. Karl Lange and His Double Bicycle
In 1905, Karl Lang introduced his double bicycle, essentially one bicycle stacked atop another, with the upper one inverted. The design appeared peculiar and notably uncomfortable, as a padded cushion behind the rider’s neck forced their head forward.
The cushion, and the bicycle itself, served a specific purpose. According to Mr. Lange, it was created to assist circus performers in executing Loop the Loop maneuvers.
This explanation seems plausible at first glance, but it raises questions upon closer consideration.
The lower section of the bicycle features two pedals and a handlebar, while the upper section lacks pedals and shares the handlebar with the lower bike. For the device to successfully loop, the loop would need to be so tight that all four wheels remained in contact with the surface simultaneously.
In such a scenario, the bicycle would likely just become stuck.
In reality, despite the claims in the patent, the bicycle wasn’t truly designed to loop the loop. Instead, it functioned as a stunt bike, enabling it to lift off on the lower wheels and land on the upper ones, creating the illusion of a full loop.
Rather than pedaling through a complete 360-degree rotation against gravity, the rider simply had to pedal to the loop’s apex on the lower wheels, launch into the air, and land on the upper wheels—blindly steering upside down without pedaling or braking. Simple, right?
There’s no evidence to suggest that stunt riders or circus performers ever actually used this bicycle.
It’s hard to imagine why.
8. Etienne Bunau-Varilla and His Torpedo Bicycle
This time, the invention truly succeeded. Etienne Bunau-Varilla, a French engineer and aviation trailblazer, participated in the first international flying convention in Reims in 1909 at just 19 years old.
He was also known for designing racing bicycles.
Among his most famous creations was the Velo Torpille, or Torpedo Bike, a sleek, aerodynamic bicycle where the rider sat inside a teardrop-shaped enclosure.
Piloted by Marcel Berthe, the bike set a world speed record in 1913, completing 5 km in 5 minutes and 39.3 seconds, averaging 33 miles per hour.
The design was widely imitated until 1914, when enclosed bicycles were banned from competitive racing. With limited practicality for everyday use, the torpedo bicycle was effectively sidelined.
7. Hiram Nickerson and His Aerial Bicycle
Hiram Nickerson’s concept for an aerial bicycle serves as a prime example of why simplicity is often best. Rather than using two wheels on a metal frame to traverse existing roads, Nickerson envisioned a bicycle that required an entirely new elevated track system.
The rider would sit on a saddle attached to an overhead track, propelling themselves forward by pedaling. However, this design limited cycling to areas where tracks were installed, necessitating significant infrastructure investment.
Nickerson’s patent application omitted several critical details. For instance, how would riders transport their bicycles to and from the track? Would they attach it themselves, or would it remain fixed like a cable car seat? Additionally, how would the system handle multiple cyclists on the same track? Could they overtake each other, and how would collisions be prevented?
And perhaps most importantly, did it even have brakes? (It did not).
Hiram Nickerson hailed his concept as a ‘new and useful advancement’ in bicycle design.
Really? While it might have been an intriguing idea, it never truly took off.
6. The Bicycle Ambulance
As the saying goes, necessity is the mother of invention, and this principle undoubtedly inspired the bicycle ambulance. Makeshift ambulances had been in use since the 1890s, but they gained prominence during World War I.
The ambulance was constructed from two bicycles joined side-by-side, with a tarpaulin stretcher suspended between them. Saddlebags were packed with medical supplies, allowing medics to pedal to injured soldiers, load them onto the stretcher, and transport them back to the nearest field hospital.
These bicycles could navigate terrain inaccessible to other vehicles, but they offered no protection to medical personnel from gunfire or shelling.
Amid the chaos and devastation of war, the sight of two men pedaling side-by-side across a battlefield must have been an oddly surreal image.
5. Simon Wortmann and His Servant-Propelled Bicycle
Simon Wortmann embodied the idea of ‘why pedal yourself when you can have someone else do it?’ His invention eliminated much of the effort required for cycling, at least for one of the two riders needed to operate it.
The patent illustration depicts a man in a flat cap pedaling furiously at the lower end of the bicycle, while a gentleman in a morning coat and top hat sits at the top, steering with a pair of cumbersome poles.
Marketed as an ‘Improvement in Velocipedes,’ the bicycle appeared to draw inspiration from the traditional horse and carriage, with the servant naturally assuming the role of the horse.
Although Wortmann patented the concept in 1869, he never moved forward with large-scale production. It’s likely he couldn’t find the necessary workforce.
4. The Quadricycle Fire Engine
During an era when fire engines were little more than hand carts and buckets, the Quadricycle Fire Engine represented a leap forward in design. The device featured two tandem bicycles positioned side-by-side and connected by crossbars, with a platform in between. This platform held the hose reel, while a pump attached to the rear could be connected to a household tap to supply water to the hose.
Australian firefighters trained with this contraption, enabling them to cycle to fire sites, unroll the hose, and attach it to the pump within minutes. They would then remount their bicycles to pedal, powering the pump, which could spray 4,500 gallons of water per hour over distances of up to 100 feet.
Provided they pedaled with sufficient speed.
Despite their somewhat humorous appearance, these machines were successfully employed in remote towns and villages for many years.
3. Louis S. Burbank and His Bicycle Rowing Machine
Cycling is excellent for building leg muscles, but what if you wanted to work out your arms simultaneously? The endlessly creative Victorians had the answer.
In 1898, Louis S. Burbank introduced the Bicycle Rowing Machine, offering two workouts in one—with the added bonus of a potential trip to the emergency room.
Burbank’s creation attached a rowing mechanism to the top of a standard two-wheeled bicycle. Instead of pedaling, the machine moved forward through the rowing motion, and steering was achieved by manipulating the oars, much like in a sculling boat.
Slowly.
It sounds impressive, but a few practical questions arise. How does it begin moving? By the time the rider climbs onto the bike, secures their feet in the stirrups, and grips the oars, the bicycle would likely have tipped over. And how does it come to a stop?
The patent application makes no mention of brakes.
Naturally, they could anchor the bike in place to keep it stationary. But then, it would simply function as a rowing machine.
Perched atop a bicycle.
Perhaps not.
2. Georg Pinkert and His Navigating Tricycle
While walking on water is said to require a miracle, cycling on it is not explicitly forbidden—except, perhaps, by the laws of physics.
However, Georg Pinkert was not one to be deterred by such minor obstacles. In 1891, he patented the Navigating Bicycle, a somewhat misleading name, as it fails to clarify that the bicycle was designed to traverse the ocean.
Pinkert constructed his tricycle with three massive balloon tires and was so assured of its potential that he attempted to cross the English Channel with it. Unfortunately, he didn’t succeed.
After cycling roughly halfway across the 20-mile strait, the tide shifted, causing him to move two wheels forward and three wheels backward. Realizing he was in danger of being swept out to sea, and finding himself in one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, he ‘hailed a passing ship and was rescued.’
Although the tricycle demonstrated its seaworthiness, it failed to gain popularity. Nevertheless, Georg, ever the Victorian eccentric, vowed to continue his experiments.
1. Edward Burstow and His Hen and Chicks
One invention that didn’t achieve much success was Edward Burstow’s pentacycle, also known as the Hen and Chicks. Created in 1882, this five-wheeled contraption featured one large wheel for the postman to sit on, with two smaller wheels at the front and back for stability. It was even adopted by the British Post Office for a time.
The pentacycle was undoubtedly a majestic and impressive vehicle, though somewhat unwieldy. It featured two convenient baskets where the postman could store mail during his deliveries.
In the end, the pentacycle failed to gain traction, likely due to the time-consuming process of mounting and dismounting at every stop.
