A Bicycle Built on an Italian Renaissance Tech Base
A YouTube channel explored the concept of a bicycle inspired by Leonardo Da Vinci's sketches. They constructed a prototype that incorporates elements from both the Renaissance and early 19th-century designs. While the bike features pedals and a drum brake based on Da Vinci's notes, its handmade chain presents some challenges in performance.
- ▪The bicycle was built by the YouTube channel How To Make Everything.
- ▪It incorporates design elements from Da Vinci's sketches, including pedals and a drum brake.
- ▪The handmade chain used in the bike is a weak point, affecting its riding speed.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
A Bicycle Built On An Italian Renaissance Tech Base No comments by: Tyler August May 26, 2026 Title: Copy Short Link: Copy There is a drawing of a bicycle in one of Leonarda DaVinci‘s sketchbooks– except it wasn’t drawn by DaVinci, and dates long after his death, so we can’t say the old master invented the bicycle. We can, however, wonder what it would have looked like if he did– and so did the [How To Make Everything] YouTube channel. As you might expect, they investigated the question of a Renaissance Bicycle in the best possible way: they built one. In some ways the device looks like the first, primitive hobby-horse proto-bicycle of the early 19th century, which is not without reason.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Hackaday.
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