Precursors to the mtb.

[epicyclo]

I thought this might interest a few of you.

It's well known that the USA invented everything including the mountainbike, but here's an article from 1930 by a guy (quite famous) who invented a bike for riding on the mountain paths in the Alps.



Let's see:

26" wheels ✔︎
2" tyres ✔︎
Alloy rims ✔︎
Cantilever brakes ✔︎ (he was the inventor of cantis)

That about covers it

So why didn't it take off?

Unfortunately he dropped dead shortly after that article.

Just think - we could have had retro mtbs from the 1930s.


BTW - his chain is not deranged, that's deliberate. It's what's called a floating chain and avoids the need for a derailleur.


The next page:

 

[Woz]

Great read.

 

[highlandsflyer]

I have said it a thousand times.

it is common sense that since the bicycle was invented people have used it on mountains.

The growth of the 'sport' is what defines the 'modern' era. This is what stimulated the world wide adoption of the mountain bike, as a parallel evolution to the road bike rather than a variant.

Anyone who spent any time in the hills as a bairn surely did as I did, and took their bike along?

Shame my dad hadn't encouraged me to organise a series of races back in the mid seventies. Mind you, I doubt my Chopper would have stood up to racing, without extreme 'modification'.

 

[zigzag]

That was superb. 1930s practical weight weenie. Had no idea Fibrax had been around so long either.