How the bicycle shifted labor, technology, and marriage

The bicycle has had an impact over time on travel, fashion, and even marriage, says historian David Ortiz.

The earliest bicycle design, called the “ordinary,” “penny farthing,” or “hi-boy,” was very tall with a disproportionately large front wheel. The introduction of the “safety” design seen in modern bicycles made riding more accessible beginning in the 1890s.

Ortiz, associate professor at the University of Arizona, is an avid cyclist, biking 28 miles roundtrip to work during the school year and logging as many as 200 miles a week during the summer months. He competes year-round in cycling events, and in 2017, completed a 73-day solo ride from Oregon to Virginia along the TransAmerica Bike Trail.

That same year, he also launched a course that combines history and cycling: “Perpetual Revolutions: A History of the Bicycle.”

With World Bicycle Day just around the corner on June 3, Ortiz offers his take on bicycle history:

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