The Wright Brothers - They Sold Bicycles Before Planes?!

Before they made history with the world’s first powered flight, the Wright brothers were two industrious mechanics running a bicycle shop in Dayton, Ohio. Known as the Wright Cycle Exchange, their modest business opened in 1892 and evolved over time, giving the brothers valuable experience in mechanics, balance, and motion—skills crucial to aviation. It's hard to believe that the same minds that conquered the skies started out adjusting handlebars and selling inner tubes.

As cycling surged in popularity in the late 1800s, the Wright brothers capitalized on the trend by repairing bikes and later manufacturing their own line of models. Their mechanical experiments with bicycles directly inspired key innovations in flight—most notably, the control systems used in their aircraft.

Their bicycle workbench became a testbed for aerodynamic theories that would change the world forever. This often-overlooked chapter in their legacy reveals the humble and practical beginnings of two of America’s greatest inventors.

The bicycle shop wasn’t just a source of income—it was a launchpad into the future of transportation. Long before they built wings, the Wright brothers were mastering wheels.