bicycling (n.)

1868年，源自 bi- “两个”和希腊语 kyklos “圆圈，轮子”的拉丁化形式（参见 cycle（n.）），按照 tricycle 的模式，这个词和车辆取代了早期的 velocipede。

一些词典中说，英语单词可能不是来自法语，但1868年的引文是在法国的背景下：

The velocipedes, about which the Parisians have run mad at the present moment, are of various kinds. ... The two wheel velocipedes, the bicycles as they are styled, are intended for the male sex only, and are by far the swiftest machines. ["Supplement to the Courant," Hartford, Conn., Dec. 16, 1868].

速足车，巴黎人目前疯狂追逐的，有各种各样的。...两轮速足车，也就是所谓的自行车，只适用于男性，是迄今为止最快的机器。【“Courant”的补充，康涅狄格州哈特福德，1868年12月16日】。

法国马车厂的员工皮埃尔·拉勒芒在1865年改进了麦克米兰1839年的脚踏速足车，并将这项发明带到了美国。另见 pennyfarthing。作为动词，从1869年开始使用。

The velocipede of 1869 was worked by treadles operating cranks on the axle oi the front wheel. This was modified in the earliest form of the bicycle by greatly increasing the relative size of the driving-wheel and bringing the rider directly over it. Later the "safety" bicycle was introduced, in which the wheels were made of equal or nearly equal size, and for the direct action upon the front wheel was substituted indirect action upon the rear wheel, by means of a chain and sprocket-wheels .... [Century Dictionary]

1869年的速足车是通过踏板操作前轮轴上的曲柄来工作的。在自行车的最早形式中，通过大大增加驱动轮的相对大小并将骑手直接置于其上来进行修改。后来，推出了“安全”自行车，其中车轮大小相等或几乎相等，并通过链条和链轮间接作用于后轮，代替了对前轮的直接作用....【世纪词典】