On 20 November 1866, Pierre Lallement received US patent No. 59,915 for a velocipede design. The document identifies him as a Parisian temporarily living in New Haven. Its drawing shows two wheels in line, a curved frame connecting them and a saddle above.
The striking difference from an ordinary modern bicycle is where the drive sits: the cranks attach directly to the front axle. There is no chain, and the same wheel provides propulsion and steering. The pedals therefore move with the steering assembly, closely coupling the two actions.
Smaller details also matter. The pedals pivot, with a weighted extension below their axis helping keep the flat surface uppermost. The saddle rests on a spring. Alongside the ability to propel the machine, foot support and rider comfort were already part of the design.
An engraving published in an 1869 book on velocipedes offers a closer look at this arrangement. It records a stage when pedals had taken over propulsion, while the familiar modern separation of steering and drive had yet to become the standard pattern.