&gt; That&#x27;s a good guess, as &quot;Wire Wheels&quot; were first successfully used commercially for bicycles.<p>We did have &#x27;wagon&#x27; style wheels[0] before that, though, with spokes in compression, rather than tension.<p>[0] <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.oldbike.eu&#x2F;museum&#x2F;wp-content&#x2F;uploads&#x2F;2011&#x2F;08&#x2F;1891_Hickory_11.jpg" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.oldbike.eu&#x2F;museum&#x2F;wp-content&#x2F;uploads&#x2F;2011&#x2F;08&#x2F;1891...</a><p>Edit: A picture!