Those bicycle builders big mistake!

Last modified Saturday, December 13, 2003 8:18 PM PST

Wilbur and Orville Wright's great mistake


By: ROBERT KAHN - Staff Writer

One hundred years ago, on Dec. 17, 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright made a big mistake. They got out
of the bicycle business and into airplanes.

Actually, the Wright Cycle Co. of Dayton, Ohio did not go out of business until 1907, when the U.S.
Signal Corps put out a request for bids for a heavier-than-air flying machine. The Wright brothers
won the bid, for $25,000, which was enough money back then for the boys to close up their bike shop.

That's a shame. The bicycle is a much better machine than the airplane. In the history of mankind, I
cannot think of a single case of a bicycle doing anyone harm, except an improvident rider or the
unfortunate person the rider runs over ---- one at a time. With the exception of musical
instruments, the bicycle may be the most human machine ever invented. The airplane is one of the
most inhuman. The scale of the disasters the airplane made possible shows we would be better off
without it.

Just 14 years after Wilbur flew over Kitty Hawk, the U.S. government began the era of modern
warfare by using planes to bomb the troops of Agusto Sandino in Nicaragua. The Fascist bombing of
Guernica in Spain was the first time planes were used to make war upon cities, but it was the U.S.
government that pushed the world down its first steps toward the particular hell we inhabit today.
For 100 years we have been earnestly saving the world by inventing machines to blow it up one piece
at a time.

I prefer the bicycle. Apparently, it was invented in 1816 by Joseph Nicephore Niepce, who also
invented photography, with help from Louis Daguerre. The first bicycle was made of wood and was
missing a few things we expect on a bicycle today: pedals and a chain, for starters. The doughty
Frenchmen called it a celeripede, and the rider sat on it and pushed himself around until he got
tired. Englishmen called it a hobby horse.

It took more than 20 years for someone to get around to adding pedals to it. This was Kirkpatrick
MacMillan, of Dumfries, Scotland, who produced the first velocipede in 1840. He was arrested and
prosecuted once for "furious driving."

I must take issue, however, with the bicycle historians who say that MacMillan also invented the
first comfortable bicycle seat. There is no such thing.

It took another 25 years for the first bicycle shop to be opened, by Pierre Lallement of Paris.
I will spare you a detailed recitation of what came next: the high-wheeler, the safety bicycle,
the addition of the chain or drive shaft, pneumatic tires and derailleurs. But all these
improvements came at a human pace ---- years apart, and for no other purpose than to make the
bicycle more fun to ride.

It is a machine fitting for intelligent chimps who have no self-control or social conscience ---- a
machine for humans.

By the 1890s the safety bicycle ---- with rear-wheel drive and pneumatic tires ---- became so
popular that guys had to let women try it. The women liked it, so the bustle had to go, and so did
whalebone corsets, though women still had to wear long skirts so guys could not see their legs, and
so the women would have trouble keeping up.

In 1896, Susan B. Anthony said, "The bicycle has done more for the emancipation of women than
anything else in the world." And who am I to pick a fight with Susan B. Anthony?

The most interesting scientific fact about the bicycle is that when you get up a head of steam its
center of gravity is actually in front of the place where the front tire meets the road. The greater
the angle of the front fork, the farther forward the center of gravity is. That's why you can ride a
bike with no hands ---- because it keeps falling forward toward its center of gravity. As you slow
down, the center of gravity comes back, and when it's behind the place where the front tire meets
the road, you fall over. Or put a foot down.

Well, if Wilbur and Orville hadn't done it, someone else would have done it, so we can't blame them
for everything. By the way, Wilbur and Orville had an older brother named Reuchlin, which shows that
Mr. and Mrs. Wright had a great sense of humor, or had none at all.

Wilbur died of typhoid in 1912, but Orville made it until 1948. He lived to see the wonderful use to
which we put his invention at Hiroshima. Just a few weeks ago, a group of atomic bomb survivors
protested the National Air and Space Museum's plans to put the Enola Gay in a display of famous
airplanes ---- as though there were something to celebrate.

I think the atomic bomb survivors have a point. We should smash the Enola Gay into tiny pieces and
bury it in the ocean, or shoot it into outer space with a sign on it: "If you can read this, you are
too close." Or we could melt it down and pound it into bicycles

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2003...0320_15_39.txt

In rec.bicycles.misc Garrison Hilliard <garrison@efn.org> wrote:

> By: ROBERT KAHN - Staff Writer

> I must take issue, however, with the bicycle historians who say that MacMillan also invented the
> first comfortable bicycle seat. There is no such thing.

Mr. Kahn evidently hasn't heard of recumbents. On organized centuries, I've overheard other riders
wishing they had one as we were headed to the finish. For me at least, at the end of a long
ride on either of my recumbents [1], NOTHING is sore. I might have tired legs (especially after
100+ miles!), but nothing aches.

I switched to the rolling lawn chairs a couple of years ago, and never looked back. Beware - they're
addictive!

[1] One short-wheelbase bike, one tadpole trike.

--
Russ Price--sprocketwabbit@fubegra.no-ip.org--kill the wabbit to despam "I've been calculating
distances in kilometers but the elevation markers are in feet. It's a good thing I'm just trying to
ride my bike and not launching any multi-million dollar space probes." -Kent Peterson

Garrison Hilliard posted teh article:

>
> Wilbur and Orville Wright's great mistake

I liked this part a lot:

> With the exception of musical instruments, the bicycle may be the most human machine ever
> invented.

But what's this???

> The most interesting scientific fact about the bicycle is that when you get up a head of steam its
> center of gravity is actually in front of the place where the front tire meets the road. The
> greater the angle of the front fork, the farther forward the center of gravity is. That's why you
> can ride a bike with no hands ---- because it keeps falling forward toward its center of gravity.
> As you slow down, the center of gravity comes back, and when it's behind the place where the front
> tire meets the road, you fall over. Or put a foot down.

Whew!! That's a contender for the most nonsensical thing I've ever seen published!

Journalism majors don't take Physics, do they?

> http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2003...0320_15_39.txt

--
Frank Krygowski [To reply, omit what's between "at" and "cc"]

On Wed, 17 Dec 2003 02:47:44 +0000, Garrison Hilliard
<garrison@efn.org> quoted ROBERT KAHN thusly:

>The most interesting scientific fact about the bicycle is that when you get up a head of steam its
>center of gravity is actually in front of the place where the front tire meets the road. The
>greater the angle of the front fork, the farther forward the center of gravity is. That's why you
>can ride a bike with no hands ---- because it keeps falling forward toward its center of gravity.
>As you slow down, the center of gravity comes back, and when it's behind the place where the front
>tire meets the road, you fall over. Or put a foot down.

What an utter and complete crock! A little attitudinal licentiousness I can forgive, but this is
so far over the edge into nonsense that one has to wonder if the author has ever had a basic
science course.

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
Yes, I have a killfile. If I don't respond to something,
it's also possible that I'm busy.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

> With the exception of musical instruments, the bicycle may be the most human machine ever
> invented. The airplane is one of the most inhuman. The scale of the disasters the airplane made
> possible shows we would be better off without it.

=v= I can vouch for this. There was a bicycle show at the World Trade Center in Spring, 2001.
People rode bikes around, some clumsily. I personally collided with the building, and it didn't
fall down. <_Jym_

On Wed, 17 Dec 2003 02:47:44 +0000 Garrison Hilliard
<garrison@efn.org> wrote:

>Last modified Saturday, December 13, 2003 8:18 PM PST
>
>Wilbur and Orville Wright's great mistake
>
>By: ROBERT KAHN - Staff Writer
>
>One hundred years ago, on Dec. 17, 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright made a big mistake. They got out
>of the bicycle business and into airplanes.

I appreciate the sentiment, but there are some rather huge mistakes of fact here. Others may have
pointed out differences of opinion, too.

>I will spare you a detailed recitation of what came next: the high-wheeler, the safety bicycle,
>the addition of the chain or drive shaft, pneumatic tires and derailleurs. But all these
>improvements came at a human pace ---- years apart, and for no other purpose than to make the
>bicycle more fun to ride.

This ignores the fact that the bicycle is a major source of pragmatic transportation for people and
goods for a majority of the people of the world. It is only in the 1st world countries where the
bicycle is seen as only a recreational product.

>The most interesting scientific fact about the bicycle is that when you get up a head of steam its
>center of gravity is actually in front of the place where the front tire meets the road. The
>greater the angle of the front fork, the farther forward the center of gravity is. That's why you
>can ride a bike with no hands ---- because it keeps falling forward toward its center of gravity.
>As you slow down, the center of gravity comes back, and when it's behind the place where the front
>tire meets the road, you fall over. Or put a foot down.

Pure BS. I can't imagine where anyone would come up with such a rediculous statement and then think
to refer to it as "scientific fact."

-
-----------------------------------------------
Jim Adney jadney@vwtype3.org Madison, WI 53711 USA
-----------------------------------------------

"frkrygow" <"frkrygow"@omitcc.ysu.edu> wrote in message
news:3fdfd226@news.ysu.edu...
> Garrison Hilliard posted teh article:
>
> >
> > Wilbur and Orville Wright's great mistake
>
> I liked this part a lot:
>
> > With the exception of musical instruments, the bicycle may be the most human machine ever
> > invented.
>
>
> But what's this???
>
> > The most interesting scientific fact about the bicycle is that when you
get up a
> > head of steam its center of gravity is actually in front of the place
where the
> > front tire meets the road. The greater the angle of the front fork, the
farther
> > forward the center of gravity is. That's why you can ride a bike with no
hands
> > ---- because it keeps falling forward toward its center of gravity. As
you slow
> > down, the center of gravity comes back, and when it's behind the place
where the
> > front tire meets the road, you fall over. Or put a foot down.
>
> Whew!! That's a contender for the most nonsensical thing I've ever seen published!
>
> Journalism majors don't take Physics, do they?

The nonsensical things in this story began far before that remark. "In the history of mankind, I
cannot think of a single case of a bicycle doing anyone harm ... " Of course you can't. It's an
object. So is an airplane. On their own, neither the bicycle, nor the airplane are capable of doing
anyone harm. The problem is with mankind, not with the machine. But it's typical that someone would
project the sinister deeds of man IN a plane onto the plane.

Anyone who buys into this drivel must be mindless. Watch Discovery Wings on cable or satellite TV,
or read a book about the Wright Brothers' achievement. It's really quite remarkable. Stunningly
remarkable. It's not just a story of incredible ingenuity, but also one of remarkable determination
and commitment to excellence.

I was a journalism major in college. Fortunately, I decided to get a real life and to really achieve
something instead of just retelling the achievements of others ... or just tearing them down.

Bob C.

"Werehatrack" <rault00@earthWEEDSlink.net> wrote in message
news:ennvtv8934ccgoqaq7e3dtba9na1gr7cb9@4ax.com...
> On Wed, 17 Dec 2003 02:47:44 +0000, Garrison Hilliard <garrison@efn.org> quoted ROBERT
> KAHN thusly:
>
> >The most interesting scientific fact about the bicycle is that when you
get up a
> >head of steam its center of gravity is actually in front of the place
where the
> >front tire meets the road. The greater the angle of the front fork, the
farther
> >forward the center of gravity is. That's why you can ride a bike with no
hands
> >---- because it keeps falling forward toward its center of gravity. As
you slow
> >down, the center of gravity comes back, and when it's behind the place
where the
> >front tire meets the road, you fall over. Or put a foot down.
>
> What an utter and complete crock!

Along with a few other of the writers comments.

Pete

"frkrygow" <"frkrygow"@omitcc.ysu.edu> wrote in message news:<3fdfd226@news.ysu.edu>...
> Garrison Hilliard posted teh article:
>
> >
> > Wilbur and Orville Wright's great mistake
>
> I liked this part a lot:
>
> > With the exception of musical instruments, the bicycle may be the most human machine ever
> > invented.
>
>
> But what's this???
>
> > The most interesting scientific fact about the bicycle is that when you get up a head of steam
> > its center of gravity is actually in front of the place where the front tire meets the road. The
> > greater the angle of the front fork, the farther forward the center of gravity is. That's why
> > you can ride a bike with no hands ---- because it keeps falling forward toward its center of
> > gravity. As you slow down, the center of gravity comes back, and when it's behind the place
> > where the front tire meets the road, you fall over. Or put a foot down.
>
> Whew!! That's a contender for the most nonsensical thing I've ever seen published!
>
> Journalism majors don't take Physics, do they?
>
>
>
> > http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2003...0320_15_39.txt

Dear Frank,

But it's a "scientific fact"!

Now we know the secret to no-hands riding that Jobst Brandt has been hiding from us for years--you
just keep your center of gravity in front of the place where your front tire meets the road.

Naturally, I want lots of measurements of how large "a head of steam" is needed before this happens.

Here's a fixed-gear rider showing how to ride no-hands by trying to get his center of gravity ahead
of his front tire's contact patch:

http://www.oldskooltrack.com/files/skids.frame.html

Carl Fogel

"Jym Dyer" <jym@econet.org> wrote in message
news:Jym.wzptenbgdw.fsf@econet.org...
> > With the exception of musical instruments, the bicycle may be the most human machine ever
> > invented. The airplane is one of the most inhuman. The scale of the disasters the airplane made
> > possible shows we would be better off without it.
>
> =v= I can vouch for this. There was a bicycle show at the World Trade Center in Spring, 2001.
> People rode bikes around, some clumsily. I personally collided with the building, and it didn't
> fall down. <_Jym_>

This post is sick and twisted. Your computer is an evil, infernal contraption for facilitating such
a post! Clearly, the adding machine is a better machine because it wouldn't have allowed you to
express such a thought.

Bob C.

In rec.bicycles.misc psycholist <psycholist@wctel.net> wrote:

: The nonsensical things in this story began far before that remark. "In the history of mankind, I
: cannot think of a single case of a bicycle doing anyone harm ... " Of course you can't. It's an
: object. So is an airplane. On their own, neither the bicycle, nor the airplane are capable of
: doing anyone harm. The problem is with mankind, not with the machine. But it's typical that
: someone would project the sinister deeds of man IN a plane onto the plane.

Yup, it's obviously just liberal nonsense. Easily countered with a rational NRA-style argument.

FWIW the bicycle is also used by the military.

--
Risto Varanka | http://www.helsinki.fi/~rvaranka/ risto.varanka@helsinki.fi

"psycholist" <psycholist@wctel.net> wrote in message
news:broma8$c3nj$1@news3.infoave.net...
> "frkrygow" <"frkrygow"@omitcc.ysu.edu> wrote in message news:3fdfd226@news.ysu.edu...
> > Garrison Hilliard posted teh article:
> >
> > >
> > > Wilbur and Orville Wright's great mistake
> >
> > I liked this part a lot:
> >
> > > With the exception of musical instruments, the bicycle may be the most human machine ever
> > > invented.
> >
> >
> > But what's this???
> >
> > > The most interesting scientific fact about the bicycle is that when
you
> get up a
> > > head of steam its center of gravity is actually in front of the place
> where the
> > > front tire meets the road. The greater the angle of the front fork,
the
> farther
> > > forward the center of gravity is. That's why you can ride a bike with
no
> hands
> > > ---- because it keeps falling forward toward its center of gravity. As
> you slow
> > > down, the center of gravity comes back, and when it's behind the place
> where the
> > > front tire meets the road, you fall over. Or put a foot down.
> >
> > Whew!! That's a contender for the most nonsensical thing I've ever seen published!
> >
> > Journalism majors don't take Physics, do they?
>
> The nonsensical things in this story began far before that remark. "In
the
> history of mankind, I cannot think of a single case of a bicycle doing anyone harm ... " Of course
> you can't. It's an object. So is an
airplane.

I don't know about that...

"KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (CNN) -- A bicycle carried a bomb that exploded in the main square of the
southern Afghanistan city of Kandahar, wounding at least 15 people, police in the city say. "

http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapc.../afghan.blast/

Do a Google search on "bicycle bomb". Dark humor aside, your point is correct. It's how man uses his
technology either for good or harm.

Mike

On 16 Dec 2003 22:38:00 -0800, carlfogel@comcast.net (Carl Fogel)
wrote:
>Here's a fixed-gear rider showing how to ride no-hands by trying to get his center of gravity ahead
>of his front tire's contact patch:
>
>http://www.oldskooltrack.com/files/skids.frame.html

No fair! He's steering with his thighs...

>Carl Fogel
--
Rick "Steer a _fixie_ with your thighs?" Onanian

"Carl Fogel" <carlfogel@comcast.net> wrote

>
> Here's a fixed-gear rider showing how to ride no-hands by trying to get his center of gravity
> ahead of his front tire's contact patch:
>
> http://www.oldskooltrack.com/files/skids.frame.html
>

If you look really closely, you can see how much the front wheel is loaded by the difference in
contact patch size.

Pete

<risto.varanka@secure.from.spam.helsinki.fi> wrote in message
news:brpc6a$aa7$1@oravannahka.helsinki.fi...
> In rec.bicycles.misc psycholist <psycholist@wctel.net> wrote:
>
> : The nonsensical things in this story began far before that remark. "In
the
> : history of mankind, I cannot think of a single case of a bicycle doing anyone harm ... " Of
> : course you can't. It's an object. So is an
airplane.
> : On their own, neither the bicycle, nor the airplane are capable of doing anyone harm. The
> : problem is with mankind, not with the machine. But
it's
> : typical that someone would project the sinister deeds of man IN a plane
onto
> : the plane.
>
> Yup, it's obviously just liberal nonsense. Easily countered with a rational NRA-style argument.
>
> FWIW the bicycle is also used by the military.
>
> --
> Risto Varanka | http://www.helsinki.fi/~rvaranka/ risto.varanka@helsinki.fi

Funny you mention it. I had another paragraph in that post where I likened blaming planes for
bombings to people suing gun manufacturers, etc. I deleted it 'cuz I didn't want my post to sound
like an NRA-style argument.

And yes, you're right. Bicycles were used in the military. There's a display about it at Fort
Benning, GA. I believe the Chinese and the Vietnamese have also made significant military use of
the bicycle.

Bob C.