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Pickwick Bicycle Club Magazine Volume 14 No.1 March 2017
The Baron Carl Drais von Sauerbronn
(who looks remarkably like Mr Wa@y,
or is it the other way around?)
His invention, although short lived, soon took his name in Germany as a draisine, in
France as a draisine, and in England it was given the name Hobby Horse or Dandy Horse as
most of the riders were dapper young men with more money than sense! In 1819 the British
coach-builder Denis Johnson produced an improved version, although it was soon banned
from the streets due to accidents with pedestrians.
It wasn't until 1864 that Pierre Michaux added cranks and pedals to the front wheel
and together with the Olivier brothers they developed the Michauline or Velocipede in
France, which was fondly known as the Boneshaker in England, and the bicycle craze was
well under way.
Today it is well recognised that the best way to teach children to cycle is to start them on
a hobby horse or glide bike - so the invention of 1817 likes on!
Should members wish to support Mr.Watty in raising funds for Cancer Research UK, please
visit his Just Giving website at: www.justgiving.com/stuart-mason-elliott7
Did you know……?
Buster Keaton rode a Dandy Horse in the 1923 film “Our Hospitality”
The modern ‘balance bike’ available to help young children learn to ride, is based
on the Dandy Horse.
