Bring Out Your Bikes for National Bike Month

Do you remember the first time you learned to ride a bike? Did a parent help you? Did you teeter and fall or happily pedal away? May is National Bike Month, a celebration of that two-wheeled marvel, the bicycle. Join us in honoring a machine that helps you go green and get fit at the same time with these five fun facts about bicycles.

Fun Facts About Bikes

1. The earliest version of the modern bicycle was named a dandy horse and was invented by German Baron Karl von Drais in 1817.

2. Amsterdam, Netherlands is touted as the " bicycling capital of Europe." Forty percent of the traffic in this city comes from bikes. Amsterdam further backs up their nickname by providing cyclists extensive routes and government support. Read more about biking friendly cities.

3. Can tandem bikes get extreme? Yes. Some report the longest tandem bike to be 67 feet long with the ability to seat 35. Others report that the record was smashed with a tandem that was 92 feet long (that, impressively, could be pedaled with just two people):

4. With all the fancy bells and whistles of contemporary stationary bikes, it’s easy to think exercise bikes were a recent invention. In fact, these machines have been around since the end of the eighteenth century. Learn about one early model, the Gymnasticon, invented in 1796.

5. Mountain biking, bicycling motocross (BMX) and cycling are the major sports associated with bikes, but they are not alone. Bike jousting, Cycle ball (where soccer meets cycling) and artistic cycling (think acrobats on a bike — see video below) are just a few of the many cycling sports that exist.

If you’re pumped to pedal after reading these fun facts, know that our experts at Push Pedal Pull can help you find the perfect home exercise bike to fit your needs... we also sell the popular ElliptiGO outdoor crosstrainer that will give you a fabulous and unique outdoor "cycling" experience! Read our previous blog post about the ElliptiGO Outdoor Crosstrainer.

Did any of these facts surprise you? Are you an avid biker? Do you commute via two wheels or four? Have you ever tried the ElliptiGO? If you have, you're not alone. Countless Olympians and Elite Athletes have made the ElliptiGO a core part of their workout routine.

Please tell us about your experience with bikes in the comment section below.