Happy Birthday Cycling! Today sees the 200th anniversary of the very first bicycle ride, by one Baron Karl von Drais, in Mannheim, Germany. Legend has it that on that day, Herr Drais revealed his new invention to an expectant crowd - a two-wheeled vehicle propelled by its rider called “The Draisienne” – before setting off on an 8 mile round trip which he apparently completed in just under an hour. And thus, cycling was born.