Gear Up: The Science of Bikes

GEAR UP: The Science of Bikes is a combination of interactive stations and displays encouraging exploration and discovery centered around the history, design, and engineering of the bicycle.

The invention of the bicycle made an immediate impact on society and personal mobility and helped to shape our culture. Like any great invention, it has been upgraded and adapted over the years. Because the bicycle is so commonplace, it is easy to take for granted how it actually works.

At GEAR UP, visitors discover how the bicycle is an elegant example of basic science principles. They learn how bikes work; what the history/evolution of the bike is; the science and technology behind the machine; and how bikes have impacted our culture.

GEAR UP is a combination of interactive hands-on stations and a collection of over 14 vintage bicycles ranging from the Victorian-era Penny Farthing to customized lowriders, big wheels, and clown bikes.

Visitors can view the collection and engage with many fun interactive exhibits exploring forces and motion, material science, and engineering. Pedal a crank to generate power, roll balls down a series of ramps, mix colors, etc.

Like the bicycle itself, the exhibition has been designed to appeal to people of all ages and with diverse interests, from STEM to design to history to art.