In 1791, Comte de Sivrac invented the célérifère, a rudimentary two-wheeled wooden device that is considered one of the earliest forms of a bicycle. This invention marked a significant step in the evolution of personal transportation, allowing for recreational riding. The célérifère laid the groundwork for future developments in cycling and transportation technology, reflecting the innovative spirit of the late 18th century.

Comte de Sivrac's invention of the Célérifère in 1791 contributed to early notions of leisure and personal freedom, resonating in European poetry. Poets began to celebrate individual mobility and the joys of exploration, prefiguring the Romantic ideals that would dominate the literary landscape in the following decades.