They have a frame and two wheels, but otherwise today's racing bikes bear little resemblance to their early predecessors. Late 19th century racing bikes lacked gears and had ineffective brakes. Their center of gravity was so askew that riders often fell down headfirst. According to PedalingHistory.com, these bikes gave rise to the expression "taking a header."
Design
Bikes built for speed date from the 1870s. The all-metal bikes of that era had a low wheel in back and a high one in front. The front diameter kept increasing to allow greater speed, and cyclists also perched higher. Many resultant accidents led to the development of a racing bike with wheels of equal size. The older bikes were called "ordinaries," and the new bikes were named "safeties."
Tire Development
Ordinaries and the first safeties featured hard rubber tires, according to Ibike.org. Especially on the safeties, these tires made for a bumpy, uncomfortable ride. Pneumatic tubes were invented in the mid 1800s, and in 1888, an Irishman named John Dunlop applied the concept to bicycles. Dunlop wanted to provide his son a smoother ride on his bike. The first known bicycle race using pneumatic tubes took place the next year.
Gearing
Safeties also brought bike racing to a new level because they featured the principle of gearing. The advent of stronger, lighter metal led to the development of a chain and sprocket, according to IBike.org. The idea of gear ratios freed bike racers from having to pedal one turn for every wheel spin.
Derailleurs
Bike racing continued to develop in the early 20th century, with the first Tour de France taking place in 1903. Racers at the time had either one gear or two. If you had two and wanted to switch them, you had to get off your bike, remove the back wheel, change gear and hop back on. Racer Tullio Campagnolo got so frustrated with the process that he invented the first quick release lever for the back wheel in 1930 and an early derailleur in 1933. Derailleurs allowed racers to shift gears without getting off their bikes. Campagnolo dominated the derailleur market for years, but in the second half of the 20th century, competing manufacturers such as Shimano and Simplex stepped in and added refinements.
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