In 1885, J.K. Starley of England devised the more modern bike with a chain and gearing that allowed the wheels to be of equal size. Although bicycle races had been held on the old "penny farthings", the new bikes stimulated the growth of bicycle racing as a sport.

From 1880 to 1900, cycling became immensely popular both in Europe and the United States. The sport was primarily a professional one at that time. The sport continues its grip on the European continent to this day, but bicycle racing ceased to be a popular sport at about the time of the depression in the United States. Only the American Olympic victories at Los Angeles in 1984 and the recent Tour de France exploits of Greg LeMond and Lance Armstrong have again stimulated interest in the United States.

Today, bikes sports has become one of the few sports that has been on the programme of every Olympic Games.