Many of us have been familiar with bicycles since childhood. We commute to work and haul loads, set records, and travel around the world on them. You can find cyclists practically everywhere. In some countries, there are more bicycles than people. They are so commonplace that we rarely think about how and when they were invented. Meanwhile, this relatively recent invention is a good illustration of the technological progress of recent centuries and, to some extent, one of the drivers of this progress. Outwardly simple, the bicycle embodies the most advanced technical achievements—from vulcanized rubber and ball bearings to carbon fiber and computer aerodynamic modeling.

Every time we look at a bicycle, we admire its elegant simplicity, which, if you look closely, reveals the fruits of the labor of countless people. This book provides a short but vivid account of the history of the bicycle, its evolution, its impact on society, and the basic elements of its design.

The history of the bicycle is a story of the most advanced technological achievements, a revolution in minds, and a change in the face of cities.

Magnificent illustrations by Victoria Popova: bright and technically accurate.
A story about the main stages in the development of a world-famous means of transportation.
A description of the main trends in modern cycling - mountain biking. A separate chapter is devoted to how the bicycle influenced the empowerment of women.
In 2022, the book won the IJungle Illustration Awards.