Bicycle antique. Bicycle development history
The Soviet era left behind an impressive "bicycle legacy", since once great country at one time it produced a really large number of two- and three-wheeled "iron horses", some of which are still gathering dust in garages, while others are either still in active use or have become collectibles ...
In general, absolutely everyone in the USSR loved bicycles - from young to old, from residents of large cities to people from distant outbacks. And this is not at all surprising, since two-wheeled transport has always been affordable, while there was a clear shortage of cars at that time (and not everyone could afford them).
Despite the huge popularity of bicycles, which, without exaggeration, were considered "cult items", the Soviet Union was never a powerful bicycle power (especially in comparison with foreign countries), but it had several dozen bicycle factories that produced many different brands of three- and two-wheeled vehicles ...
Short story
Bicycles themselves gained popularity back in Tsarist Russia, that is, long before the October Revolution, but then only fairly wealthy people could afford them ... But the revolution and the civil war “stalled” the development of two-wheeled transport in the country, and the “revival wave” of bicycles began already in USSR, or to be more precise - in the 1920s ...
The “pioneer” in the production of Soviet bicycles was the Kharkov Bicycle Plant - it was there that in 1923 the first prototypes of several bicycles were produced, and the very next year almost 1000 “iron horses” left the shops ... But initially the enterprise did not have any -either a specific model, offering a variety of "two-wheelers", and the first single bicycle called "Ukraine" appeared here only in 1926 ...
At first, the Kharkov Bicycle Plant was a "monopolist" in the USSR in the production of bicycles, and only a few years later - in 1929 - the production of bikes was also established at the Moscow Bicycle Plant (which "originated" thanks to the organization of bicycle production on the basis of the Dux machine park) ... Other large factories began to develop two-wheeled transport after the Second World War - for example, the Minsk Motorcycle and Bicycle Plant, the Penza Bicycle Plant, the Chkalov Aviation Plant and others ...
During the years of the existence of the USSR, its enterprises have produced not a single tens of millions of bicycles of various models, some of which have become truly legendary, which is why to this day they are a “dream” not only for Russian citizens, but also for residents of other countries ...
road bikes
Road bicycles were the most popular in the country of the Soviets - these are, as a rule, simple bikes from a constructive point of view, designed to ride on city streets or roads with asphalt and even dirt surfaces, both adults and teenagers. Here is just a small list of the most popular and interesting models of this type:
"Ural"
This is a truly timeless classic and, perhaps, one of the symbols of the Soviet era, which is a road bike of “increased strength and cross-country ability”, which is designed primarily for riding adult men. But, despite the fact that such bikes have an impressive weight and are popularly called “collective farm” or even “grandfather”, at one time even children traveled on them, located under the top tube ...
This “two-wheeled vehicle” began its history more than half a century ago - its production was launched at the Perm Machine-Building Plant back in 1965, after which it continued its “career” for several decades and was in high demand among Soviet citizens due to ease of maintenance and unpretentiousness in operation.
In essence, the Ural is a single-speed bicycle with a frame (its height is 560 mm), which has a closed geometry and is made of thin-walled steel pipes, a brazed fork all made of the same steel, an iron steering wheel with a cast stem and 28-inch wheels with steel box-section rims. Naturally, this amount of steel determines the decent weight of the bike - more than 16 kg.
In addition, the "Ural" has in its "arsenal" an adjustable saddle with a semi-rigid frame and a soft cover. Some modifications are equipped with a combined brake system: on the front wheel there is a tong-type hand brake, and on the rear wheel there is a drum-type foot mechanism. And all of these bikes have full-length steel fenders. Later models were equipped with a frame bag with a set of tools and a tubular trunk, and some also had a headlight with an electricity generator, a pump and a step.
"Eaglet" and "Swallow"
These are teenage bikes (“Swallow” for girls with the appropriate frame geometry, and “Eaglet” for boys), designed for recreational riding of young riders aged seven years and older on asphalt or dirt roads.
They were created according to pre-war German models. Initially (to be more precise - from 1949 to 1951) they were produced at the Minsk Motorcycle and Bicycle Plant. But subsequently, the Belarusian enterprise began to master the assembly of motorcycles, which is why the production of Lastochka and Orlenok was transferred to the Siauliai Bicycle and Motor Plant, where they stayed on the conveyor until 1978 without any significant technical improvements.
But their story did not end there either, since these bicycles, having undergone a slight modernization, even “survived” the Soviet Union itself - they were produced a few more years after the collapse of the once great country.
In general, the “Swallow” and “Eaglet” differ from each other, first of all, in the geometry of the frame: in the first model it is open, and in the second it is closed. Each of these bikes has a frame (its height is 460 mm), a front fork and an adjustable steering assembly - made of steel; single speed transmission; rear foot brake and 24" wheels with steel box rims.
It is worth noting that at one time already “in the database” these bicycles relied on full-fledged metal fenders, a set of tools, a bell and a pump. At the same time, the "Eaglet" still had a trunk in the rear, and the "Swallow" was equipped with a protective net with hooks on the rear wheel and a guard on the chain.
Series road bikes, aimed at adult men and intended for recreational, tourist and business trips on roads with various surfaces and profiles. One of the features of the bike is a large number of modifications that differed from each other not only in the configuration, but also in technical aspects.
In general, the bicycle formally “appeared” in 1926, when its mass production began at the facilities of the Petrovsky Kharkov Bicycle Plant. However, the design of the bike had its roots back in the pre-revolutionary period - the fact is that the enterprise in Kharkov was founded on the basis of the Leitner bicycle factory, which was evacuated from Riga to Ukraine during the First World War, and nationalized after the October Revolution. And "Ukraine" was a model of a bicycle, the release of which was once carried out at the Riga plant. By the way, in the future, the “two-wheeled vehicle” was constantly modernized, and its production is ongoing to this day ...
The standard version of this "iron horse" has a tubular steel frame (its height is 560-600 mm), a steering wheel and a front fork; 28" wheels with steel box section rims; single-speed transmission, as well as manual front (cable-operated) and foot-operated rear (drum-type) brakes. At the same time, the bike is found both with a rigid saddle and a semi-rigid one with a hard top, and the "top" model "flaunts" a three-speed system with a parallelogram shifter and full hand brakes.
By the way, "Ukraine" is the most massive soviet bicycle in history, which has also been successfully exported to more than 30 world countries.
This is a generalized name for road bikes of the Minsk Motorcycle and Bicycle Plant, designed for adult men to ride on roads with almost any type of surface, with the exception of serious off-road. In general, there were many modifications of such bikes, marked with letters and numbers, but all of them had a similar design and technical parameters.
The production of "Minsk" in the basic version was launched in 1956 at the MMVZ, and was carried out until 1986 (when the "two-wheelers" changed their name to "Aist").
This is a single-speed bicycle with a 560 mm closed-type frame, brazed from steel pipes; rigid fork and adjustable steering assembly, all made from the same steel; 28" wheels with box section steel rims and rear foot brake. It is worth noting that all versions of the bike from the factory were equipped with full fenders, a spring-loaded saddle and a rear rack.
"Tourist"
A series of road-touring bicycles for adult men, designed for walking and high-speed riding on asphalt roads on country roads with rolled soil. This bike is found in a wide number of versions, the differences between which come down not only to appearance, but also to a number of technical features (for example, the number of speeds).
The history of the "two-wheeled vehicle" can be divided into two stages, and the first of them began in 1949 - it was then that its production was launched at the Kharkov Bicycle Plant named after Petrovsky, which continued until 1961. After the name "Tourist" was taken out of use, replaced by "Sputnik", but in 1977 they returned to the original version.
The base bike has a steel frame (closed type, 560 mm high) and fork, road or sport type handlebars, a single speed system, caliper design hand brakes and 28-inch wheels with aluminum alloy box rims. A more "advanced" version boasts a three-speed transmission with a parallelogram shifter.
A single-speed road bike designed for youngsters aged 10 and over, which is designed for both recreational and active riding on asphalt and dirt roads. The production of this bike was launched in 1970 at the facilities of the Atigsky Machine-Building Plant, after which its “serial life” continued until 1994 (that is, even after the collapse of the USSR).
It has a frame and a rigid fork made of steel; adjustable steering assembly; rear foot brake and 24" wheels with box section steel rims. In addition, on all versions of the “two-wheeler” there are such solutions as full-length steel fenders, reflective elements and a saddle with a semi-rigid frame and a soft cape.
A road bike designed for adult men to ride on city streets and country roads with packed soil. He "came into the world" in 1978 - it was then that his production started at the Penza Frunze Bicycle Plant, which continued until the collapse of the Soviet Union.
This bike has: a steel frame of a closed type with a height of 580 mm; rigid front fork all from the same steel; steering column adjustable in height; single speed mechanism rear foot brake drum design; 28" wheels with steel box rims.
"Satellite"
An adult male touring bike designed for both touring and speed riding on paved or hard dirt roads.
This bike got on the conveyor of the Kharkov Bicycle Plant named after Petrovsky in 1961, and appeared as a result of renaming the Tourist model. Practically unchanged, the “two-wheeled vehicle” was produced until 1983, when it “retired”.
The asset of this bike contains: a steel frame with a height of 540-600 mm; front rigid fork, also made of steel; steering column type "ram's horns"; 28-inch wheels with duralumin or steel (box-section) rims; 3-, 4- or 8-speed system; caliper-type hand brakes.
Sports bikes
But in the USSR they were not limited to simple road bikes, but they also produced a large number of sports bikes (and, often, very serious ones) - they were created, first of all, for use in one or another sports discipline(or for training processes) for competitions of various levels, which is why they were endowed with certain design features.
A "top-class" sports bike designed for world-class road racing competitions, considered one of the best "two-wheelers" of the Soviet era.
In general, this highway was specially developed by the Kharkov Bicycle Plant for athletes for the Moscow Olympic Games, which took place in 1980, however, due to opponents in the ranks of the national team, he did not manage to take part in them ... Work on the bicycle under the leadership of Panin G.I. began in the mid-1970s on the basis of the Colnago Mexico bike (it was on them that the USSR national team was riding at that moment), but it was constantly rejected by the "collections", and in the spring of 1979 it ceased to be of interest to them at all. From that moment, even the small-scale production of this “two-wheeled vehicle” ceased, but at the same time, single copies were still made by the end of the year according to the individual orders of certain racers. In total, during this time, a little more than fifty Moscow 80 "saw the light" for various kinds road racing.
This bike can "boast": a frame and a rigid fork made of alloy steel; an aluminum sports steering wheel with an extended stem; multi-speed mechanism with front and rear parallelogram type derailleurs; hand brakes of the tick structure “in a circle”; 28-inch wheels with tubular aluminum rims and single tube tires; winged metal pedals.
It is noteworthy that the specialists were able to achieve an extremely small mass of "Moscow 80" - only 8.25 kg. And such low rates were achieved by the widespread use of not only aluminum, but also titanium alloys in the design - the connecting rods, knitting needles, ratchet and some other parts are made from the latter.
A sports bike with a professional-sports level, available in a wide range of modifications designed for participation in road and track races (both individual and team). This is a real legend of the Soviet bicycle industry, the dream of all boys (and not only), but available only to the “chosen ones”.
"Takhion" was developed by the Central Design Technical Bureau of the Kharkov Bicycle Plant in 1979 under the supervision of Vorontsov R.I., and this bike was the first in the USSR, which widely used components and materials from foreign companies. And I must say, the bike turned out to be really impressive, which is why its production continued until 1992 (during this time over 400 “two-wheelers” were produced).
This bike has to its credit: a frame 530-600 mm high, made of steel pipes; front fork from oval pipes, all from the same steel; aerodynamically shaped aluminum seatpost; handlebar made of "winged metal" with fastening on the crown of the fork; 28" wheels with tubular aluminum rims and titanium spokes. At the same time, the road model has a 6-speed parallelogram transmission and caliper-type hand brakes front and rear, while the track version has only one speed and no brakes.
In general, Vorontsov himself wanted to call the bike "Centaur", but this name was "rejected" by the leaders - they say, there is nothing to call the Soviet bike the name of an alien character, and even with some kind of mythology there. Then the son of Reginald Ivanovich proposed the name "Tachyon", which in theoretical physics means a hypothetical particle moving in vacuum at a speed faster than the speed of light. He was approved.
"Champion"
Sports road bike designed for training riding on paved and country roads and competitions of various levels. The production of this "iron horse" was carried out at the Kharkov Bicycle Plant from 1957 to 1963, while in 1958 he was awarded a diploma "for new design solutions."
It has a closed steel frame (height 540-580 mm), steering column ram's horns, 10-speed system with parallelogram front and rear derailleurs, 28-inch wheels with duralumin rims and monotube tires, cable-actuated caliper-type hand brakes, and sports pedals with touklips.
Folding bikes
Today it may seem strange, but in the Soviet Union, folding bicycles were considered the most foppish in everyday life. Although they were inferior to ordinary road bikes in terms of driving characteristics, they suited a wider circle of people, since both adults and children rode such “iron horses” without any problems, and they could be stored even in a city apartment.
A folding bike designed for measured riding and riders of any age on roads with asphalt or flat dirt. This "two-wheeled vehicle" began its history in 1977, after which it was produced at the facilities of the Minsk Motorcycle and Bicycle Plant until 1992, and without any major visual and design improvements.
In essence, the Aist is a single-speed bicycle with a steel frame (400 mm high) and a front fork, which has a folding frame with a mechanical lock in the folded position, an adjustable steering assembly (also steel), 20-inch wheels with box-shaped steel rims, as well as a rear drum-type foot brake.
In addition, all Storks, without exception, have full-fledged metal fenders, chain protection, reflective elements, a bell, a trunk and a tool bag.
A truly massive folding bike suitable for cyclists of almost any age (naturally, with the exception of the "youngest"), which is designed for urban or country trips with the ability to be transported when folded in almost any form of public transport, as well as short tourist trips.
This "two-wheeled vehicle" was introduced in the mid-1970s, at the same time its production began at the Perm Machine-Building Plant named after the October Revolution. Moreover, the bike turned out to be a “long-liver” - its release without any significant changes continued for many more years even after the collapse of the USSR.
The Soviet "Kama" boasts: a steel frame 460 mm high, which has a folding mechanism with a cast loop-type lock; oversized steering unit with a cast stem; single speed transmission; 20" wheels with box section steel rims; front hand (pincer design) and rear foot brakes. It is worth noting that from the factory all bicycles were equipped with full-length fenders, chain protection, a trunk, reflectors on the spokes and wings, as well as a pump, and some models also had a headlight with an electricity generator.
A sort of version of the Kama (since they were produced at the same factory in Perm), but on larger wheels, also a folding bike that is suitable for riding on well-paved roads. But if its smaller “brother” was indeed found everywhere in the Soviet Union, then the “Salyut” itself was not so in demand - yes, it had a better roll, especially when driving from a mountain, but it was inconvenient for traveling in public transport, even when folded form. The only real benefit of folding it was in storage.
The basic model has: a frame (height 435 mm) of open type with a cast folding lock; rigid fork made of round steel pipes; high steering wheel with an elongated cast stem; 24" wheels with box section steel rims. The base "Salute" has one speed and combined brakes (front hand and rear foot).
The Salyut-5 model has a 5-speed transmission and fully manual cantilever-type brakes.
A folding bike designed for leisurely cycling on paved or packed dirt roads and perfect (thanks to design features) for transportation in public transport, which was once produced at the Zhukovsky bicycle factory.
"Desna" boasts: an open geometry of a lightweight frame with a cast lock for folding a loop structure; high steering wheel with a cast stem; single speed mechanism 20" wheels with steel box rims; rear foot brake drum type; saddle with a spring frame covered with leatherette.
Already from the factory, metal fenders, chain protection, a trunk with a clip, a bell and reflective elements were installed on the bike, and its basic package included a pump and a bag with tools.
Folding teenage bike for teenagers, designed for trips on flat roads, which was once produced at the Lviv Moped Plant.
The assets of this "two-wheeled vehicle" include: an open-type frame 459 mm high with a hinged folding mechanism; soldered front fork with spring shock absorber; moped steering wheel, adjustable in height; single speed transmission; 20" wheels with box section steel rims; rear foot brake drum type; saddle with springs and soft top.
Children's bicycles
In Soviet times, probably, almost every child had his own bike - even despite their considerable cost, parents stood in rather big lines in order to please their child. In general, such transport was the ultimate dream for many boys and girls - then if you had a big one, then you were considered almost the king of the court, and other guys strove for friendship with you.
Well, if we deviate from the lyrics, then in the USSR they really made bicycles specifically for children, albeit very simple ones, but for all ages - both three- and two-wheeled:
A children's bike aimed at boys and girls under the age of 10-11, which is designed for pleasure riding on asphalt or hard dirt roads. This is one of the most popular bikes for little cyclists ever produced in Soviet times.
The Shkolnik began its history back in the 1950s, or to be more precise, in 1956: it was then that its production began at the facilities of the Gorky Bicycle Plant.
At the same time, it is worth noting that the early models were divided into “boyish” and “girlish” ones (the former differed in a closed-type frame, while the latter had a lower top tube), but subsequently they made a “universal version”, which was successfully produced until 1993 of the year.
By itself, "Schoolboy" has a really primitive design. It has a 445mm high frame cut from steel, a rigid steel tube fork, a high handlebar with extended stem, a single speed transmission, 20-inch wheels with box-shaped steel rims and a drum-type rear foot brake.
Weighing in at 9.5kg, the bike came with a padded saddle, full-length steel fenders, chain guard and bell from the factory.
A single-speed bicycle for children aged four to seven, suitable for leisurely riding on good roads (both asphalted and unpaved, but with a rolled surface), which was produced at a factory in the city of Uzlovaya, in the Tula region.
This bike has a welded frame and a rigid steel fork, a height-adjustable steering assembly, 12-inch wheels with pneumatic tires and steel rims, rear foot and front hand brakes (on the tire of the wheel, piston type), as well as a plastic saddle, adjustable in height.
All versions of the "Butterfly" from the factory relied on steel fenders, a bell, a guard on the chain and a rear trunk.
A children's folding bike designed for young cyclists aged three to five, suitable for learning to ride two-wheelers as well as for slow rides on well-paved roads.
The assets of this bike include: an open-type steel frame with a folding lock; rigid fork, also cut from steel; high steering column, adjustable for reach; 14" wheels with steel rims and solid rubber tyres; caliper-type hand brake on the rim rear wheel.
By the way, already in the "base" this bike was equipped with metal fenders, chain protection, a trunk, a bell and supporting wheels on the sides.
"Baby"
Tricycle for children aged one to three years, designed for training or leisurely cycling on flat roads, which has been produced at the Kulebak Start plant since 1962 (moreover, the production of the bike is still ongoing, however, in a significantly modified form).
A children's transforming bicycle (due to its design features, it can be either three- or two-wheeled), designed for cycling by children aged three years and older, which was produced back in the 1950s.
This bike has a frame, rigid fork and adjustable handlebars made of steel, a single speed transmission, 24-inch wheels with steel rims and rubber tires, and a rear foot brake.
Since childhood, each of us has dealt with a bicycle in one way or another. Someone with might and main drove around the yard, someone only dreamed of an iron friend, someone asked to ride with friends. In any case, the bicycle has already become an integral part of our lives, something taken for granted. It is even hard to imagine that once there were no two-wheeled vehicles at all, and someone had to reinvent the wheel. In this article, we will dive into the history of the bicycle and find out who to thank for such a useful invention.
Why reinvent the wheel
Each invention is based on the idea of an individual or a group of people, and the idea is based on an objective reason for the need for a new invention. According to many researchers, one of the main objective reasons for the invention of the bicycle was the hungry and cold year 1816, which went down in world history under the name "The Year Without Summer".In April 1815, on the Indonesian island of Sumbawa (which is not far from the modern popular resort island of Bali), there was a powerful eruption of the Tambora volcano, which killed more than 71 thousand inhabitants who inhabited the numerous islands of the region. But the troubles didn't end there. A huge amount of volcanic ash entered the atmosphere and spread through it for several months, which eventually provoked the effect of a volcanic winter in the northern hemisphere in 1816.
Constant floods, many months of abnormal cold, incessant cold showers and even snow in the middle of summer - all this almost completely ruined the crop. The effects of the eruption were felt for several more years. Western Europe and North America were especially affected by weather anomalies. As a result, a mass death of livestock suffering from malnutrition began. The number of horses also dropped sharply, which forced us to urgently look for an alternative to this method of transportation.
Building a bike
At the very beginning of 1818, Baron Karl Friedrich Christian Ludwig Drais von Sauerbron from the German city of Karlsruhe patented the first two-wheeled self-propelled vehicle created a year earlier, which served as the prototype of the modern bicycle. The inventor called his brainchild "Laufmaschine", which means "running car". This invention was very similar to a modern bicycle, only without pedals and with a wooden frame. The running car instantly became popular throughout Europe - many English and French carriage manufacturers began to produce a new fashionable vehicle. But since the German word “Laufmaschine” was very hard on the ears of the British and French, running cars began to be produced under the name “Dreesina” (if the name of the inventor Karl Drais is read in the French manner and the suffix -ine is added to it, meaning belonging, then it will turn out Draisine, that is, in Russian speaking, a trolley).
The interest in railcars was so great, and the profits from their sales were such that already at the end of 1818, the British merchant Denis Johnson announced the release of a new, improved model. There was a slight hitch - a new word was needed for the improved handcar in order to distinguish the old model from the significantly revised new one (otherwise it would be like inventing an airship and continuing to call it the old word "aerostat").
However, this awkward pause did not last long - the French inventor Joseph Nicéphore Niépce, better known as the discoverer of photography, proposed the word vélocipède "bicycle" almost immediately after the appearance of a new model of railcar.
The French word for "bicycle" is formed from the addition of two Latin words velox "fast" and pedis "legs" (i.e. literally "fast-footed" or "quick-legged"). The appeal to Latin was not accidental - firstly, Latin has always been the language of pundits, and secondly, the French, more than other European nations, loved to indulge in Latin words. However, the authorship of the word "bicycle" is disputed by another Frenchman.
According to the second widespread version, Denis Johnson's improved model was called dandy-horse (i.e. "English dandy horse"). But the word "bicycle" appeared a little later.
How everyone began to pedal
When, in 1863, nineteen-year-old Pierre Lalman, who had previously made a living by making prams, built the first pedaling "dandy horse" in his workshop in Paris, a truly revolutionary breakthrough in the history of the bicycle took place. The following year, the industrialists Olivier brothers from Lyon, highly appreciating the invention of Pierre Lalman, took him to themselves and began the mass production of "dandy horses" with pedals in collaboration with the carriage master Pierre Michaud.
Pierre Michaud was the first to think of replacing the wooden frame of a bicycle with a metal one, and also (according to some sources) decided to change the name “dandy horse”, which was dissonant for the French ear, to the Latin “bicycle”.
Until now, it has not been established for certain who was the first to come up with the name "bicycle" - the Burgundian Joseph Nicephore Niepce (1765-1833) or the Lorraine Pierre Michaud (1813-1883). On the other hand, written sources clearly recorded the first (still timid) attempts to penetrate the word "bicycle" into the Russian language precisely at that time - at the beginning of the second half of the 19th century.
Pierre Lalman, after working for a couple of years with the Olivier brothers, went to America and patented his invention there in November 1866. It is Pierre Lalman who is most often undeservedly considered the inventor of the bicycle, since outwardly his bicycle looks more like its modern descendant than the invention of Karl Dries, undeservedly relegated to the background.
Other vintage bikes
In the history of the bicycle, there are models that have not received much popularity and have practically no effect on the evolution of the vehicle. First of all, this includes the two-wheeled bicycle without pedals, invented by the Scot Thomas McCall in 1830. The main difference between the model and the trolley is that the development of the front wheel is slightly larger than the rear.
The bicycle of another Scot, Kirkpatrick Macmillan, did not become popular either. In 1839-1840, a blacksmith from a small village improved McCall's invention by adding a saddle to it and. We can say that it was Macmillan who was the first to make a bicycle that has the maximum resemblance to the modern one. The pedals drove the rear wheel, which in turn was connected by connecting rods with metal rods. It was possible to turn the front wheel with a steering wheel, the cyclist was placed between the wheels. It reminds us of a bicycle, doesn't it? But in those years, the invention went unnoticed, because it was far ahead of its time.
In the second half of the 19th century, bicycles with a huge front wheel and a disproportionately small rear wheel, known to all of us from old photographs and engravings, appeared. Such bicycles received a special name - "penny-farthing", given to them by the name of the corresponding English coins - pennies and farthings (a farthing, which cost one fourth of a penny, was much smaller than a penny).
However, these monsters went out of fashion very quickly, as the seat was located at a very high altitude, and the center of gravity in the penny farthing was shifted to the front wheel, which made such bikes quite dangerous.
Birth of the modern wanderers
In 1884, the Englishman John Kemp Starley created a new bicycle model and named it, which means “wanderer”, “tramp” in English. This model became so popular that in some languages the word Rover began to be used to refer to a bicycle in general - as, for example, in Polish (rower), from where it later got into Western Belarusian (rovar) and Western Ukrainian (rovér). And John Kemp Starley, inspired by the success of the new model, a couple of years later founded the Rover Company, which eventually turned into a giant automobile concern and lasted until 2005, when it suddenly went bankrupt.
The first rovers already had chain drive on the rear wheel, the wheels themselves were the same size, and the cyclist sat between them. This design seemed like a real breakthrough after the dubious penny-farthing, and was called "safe".
Further, the history of the bicycle is only in the improvement of Starley rovers. In 1888, the vehicle was equipped with inflatable rubber tires (the invention of John Boyd Dunlop), which made riding as comfortable and popular as possible. Thus began the golden age of bicycles.
In 1898 they solved the problem of braking. They came into use, and the manual ones that appeared did not immediately find wide application. A freewheel mechanism was also invented, thanks to which the bicycle could roll itself, without pedaling.
In 1878 they made the first folding bicycle, in the 1890s - aluminum. By the beginning of the twentieth century, gear shifting mechanisms appeared. However, those systems were absolutely inconvenient and unpopular. The modern mechanism was invented in 1950 by the Italian cyclist Tullio Campagnolo.
At the end of the twentieth century, special racing and Mountain bikes known to us to this day.
Most of my readers probably had a Desna bike in their youth. Or "Student". Or Kama. Or even - I'm not afraid of this word - "Ukraine"!
I decided to find out where they all went and what happened to the enterprises that produced them. I think you will be curious too.
Some legendary bikes are still available for purchase, and not just on classifieds sites!
Photo: GlazBike
Republic: RSFSR
City: Permian
Manufacturer: Perm Machine-Building Plant named after the October Revolution, then PO "Velta"
"Ural"
One of the most popular Soviet road bikes. Some copies are still running today. 
Photo: GlazBike
"Kama"
Despite the small wheels, "Kama" was ridden not only by teenagers, but also by adults. Despite the folding design, the bike proved to be incredibly reliable. Many Kamas are still on the move. 
Photo: GlazBike
"Firework"
Folding bike for those who still grew out of "Kama". It was produced not only in Perm, but also, for example, in Yoshkar-Ola. 
Photo: GlazBike
Status
The company was liquidated in 2006. Bicycles under old brands are not produced. Former employees of Velta founded the Forward company, whose production is located in Perm. 
Forward also owns the elite brand Format and the economy class brand Altair (more on that below). 
Republic: Ukrainian SSR
City: Kharkiv
Manufacturer: Kharkov Bicycle Plant named after. Petrovsky
"Ukraine"
living legend 
"Tourist"
Truly a dream of any Soviet tourist. Already half a century ago this bike had 4 speeds! The plant also produced similar models "Sputnik" and "Sport". 
Photo: VeloRetro.ru
"Start Highway"
Possibly the first Soviet road bike. 
Photo: VeloRetro.ru
Special model released in honor of the 1980 Olympics 
Photo: VeloRetro.ru
Photo: VeloRetro.ru
Status
Production continues. The plant belongs to the Ukrainian company YUSI. There are no more highways in the lineup, but there are Ukraina and Turist upgraded with foreign equipment. 
Republic: BSSR
City: Minsk
Manufacturer: Minsk Motorcycle and Bicycle Plant (MMVZ), then "Motovelo"
"Minsk"
Belarusian analogue of "Ural" and "Ukraine", a large road bike. 
Photo: VeloRetro.ru
"Stork"
Various bicycles were produced under the brand name "Aist", including "Minsk" in the 80s. But most often they mean a model similar to Kama and Desna. 
"Aist" with 24 inch wheels. In fact - the Belarusian version of "Salute". 
Status:
In the spring of 2018, Motovelo OJSC was declared bankrupt. The production of bicycles is planned to be transferred to the Belarusian-Chinese industrial zone "Great Stone".
"Storks" are still on sale, including classic folding bikes with 20-inch wheels. 
Republic: RSFSR
City: Zhukovka (Bryansk region)
Manufacturer: Zhukovsky Bicycle Plant, then Velomotors
"Gum"
The Bryansk analogue of "Kama", which differed from it mainly in the frame. 
Bicycles under the Desna brand are now produced by Velomotors, that is, these are the same Stealths. 
As for the largest bicycle manufacturer in Russia, it now has several factories. Production is open in Kubinka (Moscow region), the village of Krylovskaya ( Krasnodar region) and Zhukovka proper (Bryansk region). Some components for bicycles are imported from Asia. 
Republic: Ukrainian SSR
City: Lviv
Manufacturer: Lviv bicycle factory
"Eureka-2"
Perhaps the strangest of the Soviet folding bikes - with a front pseudo-shock absorber and a steering wheel like a chopper. 
Photo: VeloRetro.ru
Status:
Back in Soviet times, the plant relied on motor vehicles. With the collapse of the USSR, the situation at the enterprise began to deteriorate, and in the 2000s the plant finally died. Bicycles are no longer made.
Republic: RSFSR
City: Saransk, Mordovian ASSR
Manufacturer: Saransk Mechanical Plant
"Cross"
The most fashionable of the Soviet teenage bikes. It was quite popular in the 90s, especially in the regions neighboring Mordovia. 
Photo: GlazBike
Status:
SMZ still exists and works. Bicycles under the brand name "Cross" are also produced, but there are no wide sales in Russia. 
Republic: RSFSR
City: Penza
Manufacturer: ZIF, Penza Bicycle Plant
"Sura"
Although ZIF was primarily a defense enterprise, it produced a wide range of bicycles, including several models under the Sura brand. 
Photo:
A great variety of bicycles were produced in the Soviet Union. In some garages, rare bicycle specimens are still gathering dust. But time goes by, and today many people prefer imported bikes - track, mountain, sports - and have forgotten about the good old classics. In this review, we decided to recall the legendary Soviet models, because in fact they were excellent.
1. Tachyon
It was a real sports road bike, which was produced at the bicycle factory in the city of Kharkov. The history of Tachyon has more than 10 years, since it has been produced since 1981. to 1992 To create it, a number of foreign developments and components were used, as well as aluminum alloys and titanium. Such technologies allowed the manufacturer to achieve a product weight of 9.5 kg.
9 Tachyon models were developed, which were intended for road or track racing. For all the time that the brand existed, only 400 bicycles were produced, which had different technical parameters. Unfortunately, ordinary people could not afford this expensive bike, since it was purposefully created for racing and had a cost of 6500 rubles.
2. "Zich-1"
At the aircraft plant named after Chkalov, the Zich-1 bicycle was produced. It was so good that it soon became the dream of almost all the children of the 40s, since it was the most technically advanced (and, by the way, expensive) among the analogues of that time. Such an expensive purchase could only be afforded by representatives of the party nomenclature, scientific intelligentsia, as well as high-ranking military officials.
The first "Zich-1" appeared in 1946. and immediately became a cult. Many cyclists rate it as the best for the period of the 30s - 70s. It not only had an original design for that time, but was also equipped with hand brakes and a device for gear shifting. In addition, on the front wing of Zich-1 there was a headlight, which was powered by a small generator.
3. "Satellite"
Many Soviet families had just such a bike. "Sputnik" was produced in the 60s - 70s at the Kharkov Bicycle Plant, and then it sold to shops throughout the country. Dural or steel rims, reinforced pedals, brakes with symmetrical traction, improved gearshifts, steering wheel were installed on the "Sputnik". sports typeThis light road bike was considered a man's bike. Included were: a pump, a bell, and a bag with a set of tools.
4. "Schoolboy"
This bike has been in production since 1956. at the Gorky Bicycle Plant and was the most popular among children. "Schoolboy" was successfully sold not only on the territory of the USSR, but also in many other socialist countries.
Early models designed for boys had a closed frame, and over time this design was abandoned. Rear hub the bike had free wheeling, the steering wheel had an increased stem, and the soft seat was with a rigid frame.
5. "Stork"
This bike brand turned out to be so successful that it is still being produced and is popular with users. "Aist" is distinguished by simplicity of design and ease of repair. Now bicycles of this brand are produced by the Belarusian plant "Aist". Now many modifications and types have been developed, such as road, mountain, road, children's, etc.
6. "Moscow-80"
The name of the bicycle speaks for itself, since it was created on the eve of the Olympics in the USSR in 1980. It was assumed that it was on them that the Soviet team was supposed to compete, but later this did not happen. Connoisseurs say that "Moscow-80" were best models 70s - 80s.
The bike was made using domestic aluminum and titanium alloys. The weight of the model barely exceeded 8.0 kg, which is optimal for cycling. It was on bicycles of the Moscow-80 brand that such national teams of such countries as Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Ukraine rode.
7. "Eaglet"
This bike was considered a cult classic among teenagers in the 50s. It was produced in the Lithuanian SSR at the Shulyai Bicycle and Motor Plant. The design of the "Eaglet" was very successful for the transition from very children's bicycles to adult models. Due to the ultra-stable rear wheel and the unique frame design, which is not provided for in other models of this class, "Eaglet" has established itself as the most reliable bike for children 7-12 years old.
8. "Ural"
This bike can be called an indestructible classic. It was very heavy and reliable: the Ural was not afraid of large loads or off-road. It was completed with a first aid kit, a pump and a repair kit. It was possible to fix the second passenger seat directly on the frame. It is these bicycles that can often be seen at dachas and in villages. Their owners claim that such reliability cannot be found among modern imported bicycles.
Those who expect something special from a bike should pay attention to.
