The Lost Gears Podcast cover art

The Lost Gears Podcast

The Lost Gears Podcast

By: BloomPod Studio
Listen for free

About this listen

Before bicycles were fast, sleek, and everywhere… they were wooden, wobbly, and revolutionary. The Lost Gears Podcast takes you from the first running machines of Karl von Drais, to penny-farthings, safety bicycles, and the brands, technology, and innovators that built the industry we ride today.

Whether you’re a history buff, a bike nerd, or just curious about how bicycles shaped the world, this podcast delivers stories, nerdy facts, and storytelling — all in a format that’s fun and educational.

Hop on, and let’s ride through the fascinating history of the bicycle — one gear at a time.

BloomPod 2026
Episodes
  • Laufmaschine
    Feb 13 2026

    Before carbon frames, suspension, or even pedals, there was a simple wooden machine that changed transportation forever. In 1817, a German inventor named Karl von Drais introduced the world to the Laufmaschine — a two-wheeled “running machine” powered entirely by human feet.

    It didn’t have a chain. It didn’t have brakes. And it certainly didn’t look like the bicycles we ride today.

    But this humble wooden contraption introduced one revolutionary idea: two wheels in a straight line, balanced by a rider. That concept would become the foundation of every bicycle that followed.

    In this episode of The Lost Gears Podcast, we step back to the early 1800s to explore the world that gave birth to the first bicycle. We’ll look at the social and economic pressures that inspired its creation, the strange reactions it received from the public, and how this simple invention sparked a transportation revolution.

    From muddy roads and failing horse populations to aristocrats racing through city parks on wooden machines, the story of the Laufmaschine is equal parts innovation, chaos, and curiosity.

    It may not have had pedals, but it pushed the bicycle — and the world — into motion.

    Welcome to The Lost Gears Podcast, where we explore the stories that shaped cycling, one gear at a time.

    Show More Show Less
    14 mins
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.