January 20, 2009

Low Bike Gives Added Power (Jun, 1937)

Filed under: Bicycles — @ 12:04 am
Source: Modern Mechanix ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Jun, 1937
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Low Bike Gives Added Power
WITH a seat only 19 inches from the ground making it unnecessary for the rider to leave the seat when stopping in traffic, a new type bicycle affords more safety and greater speed as well as being easier to ride. The leg muscles are supplemented by the back muscles when going up hill. The rider sits in the same position as in an automobile, thus reducing discomfort.

December 17, 2008

Bike Disguised as Motorcycle (May, 1932)

Filed under: Bicycles, Motorcycles — @ 2:40 am
Source: Modern Mechanix ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: May, 1932
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Bike Disguised as Motorcycle
WHAT is this younger generation coming to? When you and I were kids a bike was a bike, and lucky was the boy to get one without any trimmings whatsoever. But now look! Even the tiny tots must have a bike, and an ordinary one won’t do. It must be designed as the Graf Zeppelin, or in this case, a real motorcycle.

September 7, 2008

GEARLESS AND CHAINLESS BIKE DRIVEN BY BODY BOUNCE (Jun, 1935)

Filed under: Bicycles — @ 8:26 pm
Source: Popular Mechanics ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Jun, 1935
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GEARLESS AND CHAINLESS BIKE DRIVEN BY BODY BOUNCE
Functioning on the principle of an eccentric rear wheel, the latest bicycle has neither gears nor a chain. Invented by Phil Huyseng of Chicago, the bike is propelled by a bouncing motion of the body.

August 25, 2008

Steering Wheel for Bicycles (Aug, 1931)

Filed under: Bicycles — @ 6:52 pm
Source: Modern Mechanix ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Aug, 1931
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Steering Wheel for Bicycles
POLO games in which the players are mounted on bikes instead of ponies is the latest sport devised for amusement of Hollywood movie stars. A unique feature of the bike mount is the ring shaped handlebars, which permit greater facility in maneuvering about the polo field.

July 21, 2008

Cyclists Maneuver Galloping Bikes in Novel Polo Match (Jul, 1934)

Filed under: Bicycles, Sports — @ 10:49 am
Source: Modern Mechanix ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Jul, 1934
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Cyclists Maneuver Galloping Bikes in Novel Polo Match

A POLO game is seldom dull, but when galloping bicycles are substituted for the traditional steeds, the fun begins.
A polo match on bicycles was a feature of a recent cycling meet at Heme Hill, London, England.

Spills were frequent as riders literally tossed their cycles about the course in pursuit of the elusive white ball.

The elongated “croquet” mallets proved rather dangerous weapons as they were swung wildly about in the faster scrimmages. Riders chose to wear “crash” helmets just in case things should get rough.

July 10, 2008

Bike Keeps Family in Stitches (Oct, 1939)

Filed under: Bicycles, Just Weird — @ 1:12 am
Source: Popular Science ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Oct, 1939
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Bike Keeps Family in Stitches

CARRYING four persons and a sewing machine, the world’s weirdest bicycle recently had a tryout in Chicago, Ill. The two-story vehicle, known as the “Goofybike,” is the creation of Charles Steinlauf. It carries the whole Steinlauf family. The inventor rides at the top and guides the contraption by means of a huge automobile steering wheel. Mrs. Steinlauf sits below, operating a sewing machine, while her son pedals behind and her daughter rides on the handlebars in front. When the odd vehicle is at rest, the projecting legs of the sewing machine prevent the lofty cycle from tipping over.

July 7, 2008

Leg Power replaces electricity (May, 1945)

Filed under: Bicycles — @ 9:39 pm
Source: Mechanix Illustrated ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: May, 1945
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I don’t buy it. Hair dryers use a LOT of electricity. Plus, unless they have some sort of flywheel or intermediate battery, wouldn’t the power fluctuate if his speed alters?

Leg Power replaces electricity in this Parisian beauty salon, where Madame has her hair dried despite the lack of coal-generated current. An ingenious beautician hires unemployed 6-day bicycle racers to peddle away on a bike, the back wheel of which is attached to a small generator! The current runs 6 driers.

April 9, 2008

ELEVEN BLIND MEN RIDE ONE BIG CYCLE (Jul, 1931)

Filed under: Bicycles, Just Weird — @ 11:10 pm
Source: Popular Science ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Jul, 1931
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ELEVEN BLIND MEN RIDE ONE BIG CYCLE

An odd-looking cycle that seemed to have some of the qualities of a railway train was seen on the roads near Upper Norwood, England, the other day. Its twelve riders pedaled along, seated in flexibly connected units of the “multicycle.” This centipede among vehicles is twenty-eight feet long, but its flexible connections enable it to turn corners easily. It was built for use by students at the Royal Normal College for the Blind. An attendant with normal vision steers it.

April 1, 2008

Watercycle (Dec, 1950)

Filed under: Bicycles, Nautical — @ 10:12 pm
Source: Popular Mechanics ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Dec, 1950
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Watercycle
Like a strange bug, a homemade watercycle crawls across the surface of a lake or river. The weird craft was built by William Dein, an employee of the Republic Aviation Corporation. Dein purchased some surplus wing floats used on amphibious airplanes, fastened them together with a framework
and mounted part of a bicycle atop the structure. The operator pedals, and presto—the craft moves across the water.

March 31, 2008

THREE-WHEEL “BIKE” DRIVES LIKE AN AUTO (Feb, 1936)

Filed under: Bicycles — @ 10:13 pm
Source: Popular Science ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Feb, 1936
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THREE-WHEEL “BIKE” DRIVES LIKE AN AUTO

Automobile, tricycle, and bicycle features are combined in an odd vehicle recently introduced. The “driver” sits in a comfortable chair seat and propels the car by a bicycle-type sprocket gear connected with the two front wheels. The machine is steered by the single rear wheel, turned by means of an automobile-type steering gear.

March 24, 2008

RIDE A RANGER ALL THE YEAR ‘ROUND (Mar, 1924)

Filed under: Advertisements, Bicycles — @ 12:19 am
Source: Popular Mechanics ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Mar, 1924
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RIDE A RANGER ALL THE YEAR ‘ROUND

30 Days’ Free Trial

See for yourself the values found in Ranger bicycles with their complete equipment of accessories and extras. Send to-day for catalog and select the model you prefer. Ride it thirty days, test its speed, sturdy qualities, de luxe equipment and exclusive features. If at the end of thirty days you want to return it for any reason, send it back and you will not be out one cent.

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March 17, 2008

Bike Riding on Tight Wire Is Latest in Hollywood Fads (Sep, 1933)

Filed under: Bicycles, Sports — @ 2:05 am
Source: Modern Mechanix ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Sep, 1933
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I think the Modern Mechanix definition of a fad is “something somebody did once”.

Bike Riding on Tight Wire Is Latest in Hollywood Fads
RIDING her bicycle along the popular beach at Venice, California, near Hollywood was too tame a pastime for Billie Yuill, so with Isabelle Becker to help her maintain her balance she tried out the stunt illustrated. Taking the tires off the wheels of her bike and with Isabelle in a rope swing underneath her “bike,” she rode the lifeline along the beach.

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