Lewis Gompertzs improvement on Baron von Draiss bicycle The dandy or hobby horse was the forerunner of the bicycle and was invented by Baron von Drais in France in It was introduced to England the following year by Denis Johnson a coachmaker of Long Acre London Dandy horses had no pedals or brakes but were propelled by the rider pushing on the ground with his feet and dragging the feet to slow the machine Gompertz improved on von Drais design by adding a rackandpinion to power the front wheel
