Steam Punk Daddy

  It doesn't get much cooler than the story of Mr. Sylvester Roper: he invented one of the earliest motorcycles in 1869, a steam-powered velocipede shown below- almost 30 years later, he refines it to a coal-powered version that goes 40mph (!), and at 73, he dies racing it - but of OLD AGE - crashing his contraption at t...he moment of showing up the young whippersnappers at the track.

 Also, note some of the beauty and history of steam bicycles and velocipedes.  I like The Whippet, a early safety bike, and another remarkable early motorcycle, the 4-wheeled Daimler gas powered one below- the invention of which  may have destroyed the planet earth, mind you. More steam bikes here and the even earlier Perreaux steam bike here, and this one at the Wharf in SF!