hobby-horse
Quick Summary
The hobby-horse, also known as a dandy horse or velocipede, was an early two-wheeled vehicle propelled by the rider pushing their feet against the ground. Invented by Baron Karl von Drais in 1817, it was made of wood and lacked pedals. While it established the concept of a balanced, two-wheeled machine, the fad was brief and impractical for most roads. This early design paved the way for later developments in bicycle technology, though for decades, inventors focused on three- and four-wheeled velocipedes. The term "hobby-horse" also evolved to mean a favorite pastime or a topic frequently discussed.123
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