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Bicycle ManRecumbent Bicycle History |
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Recumbent Bike | Recumbent Cycles HistoryWe tend to think of recumbents as a "new" type of bike, but as Solomon observed "there is no new thing under the sun." The recumbent has been around, in one form or another, since before the turn of the century. These pictures show that many features of "modern" recumbent design have been around quite a while too! 1896 "The Horizontal Bicyclette normale" -
M. Challand, picture from "La Nature"
October 1896. Exhibited in Geneva this innovative bike had horizontal pedaling to allow greater thrust on the pedals. The lower seat allowed easier mounting and improved stability. Commonly called the “Challand recumbent” nowadays, it never became popular, maybe because it weighed about three times as much as its rider! 1905
"THE LATEST IN CYCLES" (text from 1905) "A novel bicycle has been built in London which has been pronounced "as comfortable as a rocking chair" and which shows remarkable mechanical ingenuity. This new machine is fitted with an anti-vibrating easy chair-like saddle which affords wonderful relief to a tired back and which proves a luxury when coasting down long hills. The ladies' machines are meeting with particular favor. They are of exactly the same construction as are the machines built for the men. The illustration gives some idea of the comfort found in these new bicycles. Besides the chair like saddle, the machine has another improvement. Note the position of the handlebars. They are almost directly under the saddle. It is this arrangement that enables the woman to ride the diamond frame with ease. The steering gear is under perfect controle and it will be seen that a smaller circle can be described on this machine than on any other. The first machine of this make was built by P.W. Bartlett, of Richmond, England, for a Java resident. He was so pleased that he has now placed an order for twelve more of the same construction. The weight is somewhat greater than that of the light-weight racing machines, but as these bicycles are built for comfort and not alone for speed this is no detriment. The cost is the same as of any other high grade bicycle."
Here is another iteration of the "Recumbents are slow" error that pops up several times over the years. It seems that it was assumed that a comfy bike could not be fast, I've gotten similar comments form traditional road bike riders as I past them. As much was stated in 1919, see below. Check out the 1933 Velo car info which should have pretty much put that line of reasoning to rest. To bad it didn't. Doesn't this SWB recumbent look remarkably modern? But then you probably would not notice if your typical 1890 upright bike passed you on the street.
This recumbent picture is dated 1914. "Armstoel-fiets" is Dutch for "Armchair Bike." Its derailleur is similar to a 1932 Benelux 3-speed derailleur I have on a French woman's bike (wedgie.) 1919 "The easy-chair bicycle is obviously built for comfort and not for speed”
1921 This 1921 recumbent, labeled "J-fiets" (translated J-Bike) has treadle drive. (Did anyone really think "Alenax" was the first treadle bike?) Again, notice the high seat height when a CLWB bike has a 700c. rear wheel
1933 In 1933 Marcel Berthet, a 43 year old Frenchman, rode a recumbent 49.99 km in an hour, a new record. In 1934 the UCI (Union Cyclist International) outlawed recumbent bicycles, and has not relented to this day. In 1938 Francois Faure rode the recumbent streamliner "velocar" 50.5 km/hour, another new record. Francesco Moser surpassed this mark on a wedgie. Moser rode 51.1 km/hour, but not till 1984, 46 years later!
The Velocar's first race. From left: Plassat,
Lemoine, Faure 1933
The most prestigious record was distance in one hour which stood at 44.247 km. Oscar Egg, held the hour record at that time, which made his name a household word in France.
Faure's record was relegated to a foot note
in cycling history with the stroke of their
bureaucratic pen. The recumbent was faster, and they
didn't want to have to compete with it. They have
not relented to this day.
I include this prone-recumbent (if that isn't an oxymoron) lest we think that horizontal means comfortable. I wouldn't look forward to a century ride on this one. How well could you breathe on climbs? It does however have the advantage of a short chain line!
Windshield for cyclists with the aid of which Berthet has beaten some indoor records. There is a wedgie in that fairing. Berthet saw the advantage of aerodynamics long before he raced recumbents. The UCI wouldn't allow either. These are modern racing recumbents with fairings. They are all record holders. They show that aerodynamics is still the name of the game for top speeds.
Some other images of intriguing bikes of the past..."I've become convinced that the recumbent is the bike of the future. It is comfortable to ride for long periods, and it wont produce numb hands or crotch" ~ Dr. David Smith, MD, Bicycling Magazine. |
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