Big Wheel: the origin. The Big Wheel has its roots in Egypt. It was used for a time as a sacred object, but was finally brought into the public arena in Venice during the Renaissance. This vehicle had a very significant or powerful person as its patron saint. The Big Wheel was a common sight on Italian roads in this time, carrying provisions, supplies and religious figures from one town to another, bringing good luck to its travelers. Soon, the idea of the Big Wheel became associated with fortune and the goddess Venus, which makes it a favorite and well-known emblem in Italy and elsewhere in Europe.

The very first prototype for the Big Wheel, a small hexagonal tricycle was created by the artisans of Venice around 1490 during the Italian Renaissance. The designer, Jan Morel, supposed it to have four wheels, which would let it be pulled along by hand. It was developed to be applied as a source of transport, much like a scooter, but instead of using human power, it was powered by both wheels. A more recent variation of this original concept was that the tricycles or'motor bikes' that are remarkably popular in most countries now.

While many versions and inventions have come and are gone by the wayside, the first big wheel concept resides. Mountain bikes and other big wheel cycles have evolved into quite useful vehicles today. But they all share a basic design that began with the original Big Wheel and remains true today. The four wheels of the Big Wheel are connected by a chain, like a bicycle chain, and there are typically a set of gears or sprockets on either side to attach these wheels.

There's a mountain bike version known as a"Bike" or"Dipper" that was the very first Big Wheel prototype. This was the first of the big wheel bicycles that had a front wheel which propelled the rider. Many versions of the Big Wheel concept included both a front wheel and a rear wheel. The inventor of the Big Wheel bicycle brand name, Ernie Elms, received a patent for this layout in May of 1938.

These early prototypes typically featured big open tire wheels and the tread weren't particularly helpful for getting traction. The tire would be attached to a chain and the wheels were not particularly sturdy. This design flaw soon changed the face of bicycles eternally.

In the late thirties the Big Wheel was redesigned by a bicycle manufacturer based in New Zealand called Gary Fisher. Fisher set about to improve the design of the Big Wheel with the addition of steel rims to the tires and developing a more robust back wheel. The result was a much better ride that still used large tires but featured a sleeker-looking design that emphasized the appearance of aluminum rather than steel. Gary Fisher also developed a new form of chain-driven brakes that worked much like modern disk brakes.

Gary Fisher developed the Big Wheel for a solution for people who either didn't have the room for large tires or for those who just didn't have the interest in cycling. The Big Wheel is perfect for use on conventional recreational bicycles and is the best way to create your normal bike into a piece of modern art. Cyclocross bikes and other types of bikes that you would want to ride on a windy day will fit well on the Big Wheel. Your citation needed.

Available in many different sizes the Big Wheel can be obtained in a number of unique designs including a wide range of tread designs. They are also offered in both rim and tire varieties with a 26-inch spacing between the wheels. This means that if you've got a little child they can ride on a Big Wheel without having the chance of them injuring themselves. If you're looking for a great way to get your children off-road without spending a lot of cash Gared has developed a line of Big Wheel Mountain bikes that feature Big Wheel rims and tires. Off-road bikes available will fit well on these tires and rims.