Edward Langley Fardon

Edward Langley Fardon (11 December 1839 – 9 February 1926) was an English whitesmith and engineer. He built and demonstrated the world's first all-metal bicycle with rubber tyres in Kenilworth in 1869, incorporating several new design features.

Biography
Fardon was born in Royal Leamington Spa to James Fardon, a blacksmith, and Mary Langley and was raised in Kenilworth from 1841. He moved to nearby Stoneleigh in 1873, and died and was buried there at the age of 86.

Career
Fardon worked at his father's smithy until age 17 when he started at Francis Skidmore's Art-Manufactures Co., in Coventry. Here he would work alongside craftsmen working in metal, whose products were of a high standard, and he was inspired. His interest in design was also nurtured, and added to his craftsmanship, it started him on the road to becoming an artisan. In 1858, Fardon made a 4.5-day walk to London to find employment at larger engineering workshops. He later produced metalwork at chateaus in Switzerland and Paris for Rothschild barons, and ornamental gates at Witley Court for the Earl of Dudley. In 1862, his gates were exhibited at the International Exhibition in London.

Fardon inherited his father's business in 1865 and returned to Kenilworth to rebuild the family's workshop at Castle End.

In later years, Fardon received several commissions on the Stoneleigh Abbey estate and local churches, including hot water and heating systems.

Bicycle innovations
Fardon had seen wooden cycles in Paris and was inspired to improve the principle of the wheels:

"I had an idea that they should be in tension, not under compression" In 1868–69, Fardon built his first "velocipede" with an iron frame, handbrake, sprung seat, footrest, and solid india rubber tyres and pedals. The "suspension wheel", as he called them, were constructed of iron rims with 16 steel spokes per wheel under tension. The rear wheel was 18 inches in diameter, and the 42-inch front wheel was larger for a smoother and faster ride. In using the term "suspension wheels" Fardon was ahead of other innovators. Another early term for the wire wheel, "spider wheel", did not come into use until the 1860s and was a very generic term.

Fardon did not apply for patents for his innovations.

In early 1869, Fardon performed a 1.5-mile demonstration ride from Castle End in Kenilworth to Leek Wootton. On later rides into Coventry, crowds gathered to see his bicycle. After six months, he sold the machine for 20 sovereigns (£20) to Stoneleigh Abbey's chef, named Robandry, who took it to Paris.

Coventry went on to become a global leader in bicycle development and manufacturing; Coventry Transport Museum houses an exemplary collection of approximately 200 cycles, most of which were built in, or around, Coventry during its cycle industry heyday.