A Brief History of Human Powered Transportation

The Boneshaker

The next advance in design was a propulsion system that drove the bicycle wheels by pedals. The "Boneshaker" (1861 - 1871) used pedals and cranks to drive the front axle. An example from the American manufacturer Pickering and Davis is shown. The lower photograph is a detail of the front wheel that shows the flat bearing pedals and wheel hub. The wooden spokes are loaded in compression in the manner of a cart wheel.

From: Adams, "Antique Bicycles," TAB Books (1981)