I’ve often wondered why, after a century of innovation, modern bicycles look so similar to the ones that people rode in the 1890s. After all the innovations in the world since that time, why haven’t we improved on the bicycle?
That question drove me to compare a brand-new, just-out-of-the-box bike to one that was built in 1895. And maybe you’ll be as surprised as me at the similarities and the differences between them.
A big thanks to the Reynolds Museum, particularly to Juanita Voth, who shared her time and knowledge. You should visit the museum: https://reynoldsmuseum.ca/
The modern bike is a 2024 Priority Eight (and it’s super fun to ride). The old bike is an 1895 Singer Ladies’ Safety Bicycle (and it’s fascinating).
Part of the reason they look so similar is because UCI banned recumbents as soon as they were invented
Not just recumbents. In the late 90s Kestral unveiled some super cool and aero road bike frames that did away with the classic dual triangle frame design entirely. UCI banned those as well and i will never not be salty about it
I really don’t blame them. At the speeds even on the flat that pro riders are cruising at in a stage race, they’re not particularly safe, and even more so during a high-speed technical descent like descending a mountain.
Take a full-suspension carbon mtb with electric shifting, hydraulic brakes, tubeless tyres etc and compare it to 1895 Singer safety bike. A lot has changed! But of course with more simple designs there aren’t that many bits to develop, yet probably every part has changed to some extent since those times.
Because the shape of humans hasn’t changed. It still needs to fit us a certain way.
Also there are more types of bicycle than that 130 year old one. Most of what has improved are the materials used, the engineering involved, and a better understanding of the human body, what it needs ergonomically to be comfortable and efficient and avoid injury, and of course we started racing them, and pro bike racing, much like warfare and the space race of the 1960’s, sparked much innovation.
I don’t even know what to say about people scared of a pennyfarthing. I guess they never saw a guy push a motorcycle fast as he can in 3rd gear clutch disengaged, and jump on when the engine fires after he dumps the clutch. (They took away kickers before electric start was reliable)
You are describing me starting my 125 cc 2 strokes motorbike.
Except I had to jump on before disengaging the clutch because otherwise the rear wheel lacked traction and would stop and slide
You think that’s scary? you should see me kick start my old PoS hyundai truck
My old VW Beetle had an unreliable starter, so I often found myself push-starting it. You don’t see many people push-starting vehicles today, and even fewer doing it by themselves.
You have no idea bud … I run a local car club … every year there’s less and less manuals. There’s only a handful of manual car models left.
We’re being pushed around and they’ll have to pry my manual shitbox from my cold dead body.
In 2008 I bought a used Tacoma and specifically a 5-speed stick.
