Comments on: What’s really new in bicycle world?

By: henry

henry — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:52:50 +0000

Simon,
Exactly. With each step forward it seems that somebody ignores or forgets something else important. WorkCycles is just a little company and sometimes we have to work with what we can get while we slowly develop our own parts that more fully meet our demands. Even then it’s not economically practical to make some parts in quantities of just a couple thousands units or less.

By: Simon

Simon — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:01:41 +0000

Henry,
No criticism specifically of Workcycles was intended.
It was really just an observation that in over 100 years of evolution the cycle industry can still get the basics wrong.

By: henry

henry — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 21:04:46 +0000

Simon,
You’re correct and I didn’t claim to be exempt from my criticism. Some of our frames (the traditional Dutch city bikes) are not of our own design… yet. We’re slowly working on developing the entire line.

By: Simon

Simon — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:12:19 +0000

Interesting that you say ‘The generally too high crank axles that make it difficult for the rider to reach the ground when the saddle is adjusted to a biomechanically suitable height ‘
I have a 70cm Kruisframe. It’s a beauty but suffers from that very flaw.
Seems like there is still work to do there!

By: Jefe

Jefe — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:20:19 +0000

I found it at the library of the local university, very interesting. I especially like the section on perfectly braced frames. The author also includes a few bicycle parts of his own invention that would be interesting to try out.

By: John . Dublin Ireland

John . Dublin Ireland — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 21:04:18 +0000

I suppose the difference between then and now is Comfort. All the little Tweaks down through the Years to try and improve things. Two Steps forward and one backwards,sometimes they make a complete Hames of Designs and have to Recall Bikes to try and Fix things. The improvements that can be made are mostly Ergonomic like more Wider Hand Grips for the Handlebars or better Pedals that your Feet do not Slip off in the Wet. Or making the Clearance between the Front Wheel and your Foot better so you do not Hit off the Wheel when turning a Corner. Some Bikes are Notorious for that,even Top of the Range Racing Bikes.

By: chrismealy

chrismealy — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:31:17 +0000

It’s on Google Books!

http://books.google.com/books?id=CNwWAAAAYAAJ

I love the bike on page 289.