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Slowest advancing technology ever?

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    Slowest advancing technology ever?

    The bycycle.


    Man with a bike he has owned since he was 12 but looks modern. The bike not the man. How much stuff do you own that looks younger than you?


    Imagine what a car or plane or computer looked like 60 years ago and contrast progress with a bike.

    One careful owner and 100,000 miles on the clock: Pensioner is still peddling around on the bike he received for his 12th birthday | Mail Online

    Having said that, bikes are pretty efficient as far as the drive train goes (chain, gears, bearings), the human can be regarded as fixed technology though positioning and how muscles are used could be changed. Which leaves mainly aerodynamics and rolling resistance (tyres and road surface) to twiddle with. Tyres may have moved backwards with those knobbly things people use even in town. Aerodynamics are where most gains could be had and where little progress has been made to the bike itself except to allow a change in riding position.

    Has the bicycle more or less technologically peaked?

    #2
    My space hopper still gets me to the station.

    Comment


      #3
      Originally posted by TimberWolf View Post
      The bycycle.


      Man with a bike he has owned since he was 12 but looks modern. The bike not the man. How much stuff do you own that looks younger than you?
      The front chain wheels and shafts have been changed to newer versions.

      The hubs look dated, the large flanges are a give away. Modern materials allow for a smaller, lighter design

      The gear levers are on the body. Modern systems have the gear change integrated with the brake levers

      The brake calipers are an outdated design, as are the toe clips.

      Finally, the frame has been put together with a technique which is (as far as I know) not used any more as it's been superseded by other methods which save on weight.

      Forgot to add:
      The handle bars are connected to the forks using a method that went out of date in the 90's

      and the gears are clearly of the non-indexed veriety (sp?)
      Last edited by Spacecadet; 2 July 2012, 16:40.
      Coffee's for closers

      Comment


        #4
        Originally posted by Spacecadet View Post
        The front chain wheels and shafts have been changed to newer versions.

        The hubs look dated, the large flanges are a give away. Modern materials allow for a smaller, lighter design

        The gear levers are on the body. Modern systems have the gear change integrated with the brake levers

        The brake calipers are an outdated design, as are the toe clips.

        Finally, the frame has been put together with a technique which is (as far as I know) not used any more as it's been superseded by other methods which save on weight.

        Forgot to add:
        The handle bars are connected to the forks using a method that went out of date in the 90's
        Which all adds up to a hill of beans.

        Comment


          #5
          Originally posted by Spacecadet View Post
          The front chain wheels and shafts have been changed to newer versions.

          The hubs look dated, the large flanges are a give away. Modern materials allow for a smaller, lighter design

          The gear levers are on the body. Modern systems have the gear change integrated with the brake levers

          The brake calipers are an outdated design, as are the toe clips.

          Finally, the frame has been put together with a technique which is (as far as I know) not used any more as it's been superseded by other methods which save on weight.

          Forgot to add:
          The handle bars are connected to the forks using a method that went out of date in the 90's
          Sounds like Trigger's broom then.

          Comment


            #6
            Apparently he got it second hand too.

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by TimberWolf View Post
              Which all adds up to a hill of beans.
              you might as well say that cars haven't changed in the past 60 years because they still have 4 wheels, an engine, doors, a steering wheel, a radio, seats for passengers, a boot for luggage and run on liquidised fossils.
              Coffee's for closers

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by TimberWolf View Post
                Apparently he got it second hand too.
                Bet you could still find it for cheaper
                Coffee's for closers

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by Spacecadet View Post
                  you might as well say that cars haven't changed in the past 60 years because they still have 4 wheels, an engine, doors, a steering wheel, a radio, seats for passengers, a boot for luggage and run on liquidised fossils.
                  Arguably. Although modern cars are more efficient, fuel injected, electronically controlled and have a more efficient shape generally from those in 1950.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by TimberWolf View Post
                    Arguably. Although modern cars are more efficient, fuel injected, electronically controlled and have a more efficient shape generally from those in 1950.


                    That was his point.
                    (\__/)
                    (>'.'<)
                    ("")("") Born to Drink. Forced to Work

                    Comment

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