So we may say that, for a few brief decades before motorcycles and cars took over, the bicycle was the most advanced personal land vehicle around. And those decades were not just glorious but soulful and funny at the same time.


So please welcome another historical collection of crazy bike images within our Bike Month coverage, and decide for yourself whether the following ideas and inventions were visionary or witless.


Oldreive's new tricycle, or the New Iron Horse, 1882.

Source: Library Of Congress

1885: The aerial bicycle was devised by American inventor S. T. Hachenberger, to utilize the newly erected telephone poles and wires for transportation. The idea was soon abandoned.


Image: Three Lions/Getty Images

A monocycle invented by Langmark and Stuef of California, which consists of a cycle moving within a large wheel, ca. 1895.


Image: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Chas. H. Kabrich, the only bike-chute aeronaut, 1896.


Source: Donaldson Lith. Co./Library Of Congress

Alfred Koescher of Berlin, cycling behind a windshield attached to the back of a pace-making motorcycle on a marathon race, ca. 1900.


Image: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Max Schreyer's daredevil bicycle flying stunt from long ramp, 1901.


Source: Frederick W. Glasier/Library Of Congress

The Seven Gaynells riding bicycles on an open fence track at an acute angle of 70 degrees, c. 1902.


Source: Detroit Publishing Co./Library Of Congress

Sailing bicycles on the beach, Ormond, Florida, c. 1903.


Source: Detroit Publishing Co./Library Of Congress

Diavolo performing his bicycle daredevil act, 1905.


Source: G. Fred Mathiessen/Library Of Congress

Mae Gordon's original insane moving pedestal, 1907.


Source: Library Of Congress

A comfortable bike, c. 1914.


Source: Bibliothèque nationale de France

Competition for water cycles on Lake Enghien, 1914.


Source: Bibliothèque nationale de France


Source: Bibliothèque nationale de France


Source: Bibliothèque nationale de France

This new bicycle was intended to help solve transit problem, c. 1920.


Source: Library Of Congress

A model bicycle with wings, 1921.


Image: E. Bacon/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images

French inventor Alois Santa with his bicycle aeroplane, 1923.


Image: Topical Press Agency/Getty Images

A bicycle equipped with balloon tires and a "baby" bike are side by side in the Safety Day parade in New York, 1930.


Image: Topical Press Agency/Getty Images

"Rocket" cyclists from the Thirties.


Image: General Photographic Agency/Getty Images

Bicycle designer B. G. Bowden with his aerodynamically designed cycle, 1935.


Image: General Photographic Agency/Getty Images