Pierre Lallement (October 25, 1843 – August 29, 1891) was a French inventor who is credited with developing the concept of the pedal-powered bicycle. He is often referred to as the inventor of the bicycle, although the invention of the bicycle was a gradual process involving contributions from multiple individuals.
In the 1860s, Lallement moved to the United States and settled in Connecticut. There, he developed a two-wheeled vehicle with pedals and cranks, which allowed for a rider to propel the vehicle forward using their own power. Lallement's design was influenced by the "vélocipède," a precursor to the bicycle that was popular in Europe at the time.
In 1866, Lallement patented his pedal-powered bicycle design in the United States, and his invention marked a significant step toward the modern bicycle as we know it today. However, his design was still quite different from the bicycles we use today, with a large front wheel and a smaller rear wheel.
The popularity of bicycles began to grow, and other inventors and manufacturers further refined the design, leading to the development of the "safety bicycle" with two equally-sized wheels. This design eventually became the standard for bicycles and played a crucial role in the transportation revolution of the late 19th century.
While Pierre Lallement's contribution to the invention of the bicycle is noteworthy, it's important to recognize that the development of the bicycle was a collaborative effort involving various inventors and innovators over time.
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