BICYCLES RELATED ARTICLES #2
to Bicycle Related Articles #1
Bicycle Accessories Development, History of Bicycle Polo, Fixed Gears, Leather saddles, History of Road Cycling in Australia, History of Track Cycling in Australia, Bicycle lamps Development, Pneumatic Tyres,
Bicycle Accessory Development
Compiled by Ken Ward of WA.
1860 First Brake:- A leather pad pressed onto the side of the Velocipede wheel by pulling a cord.
1868 In Paris Show a primitive Freewheel and Variable gears were shown.
1874 Starley introduced Tangential Spoking.
1887 First fitted Bell appeared on the Starley Rover.
1888 Dunlop produced the Pneumatic Tyre.
1891 Michelin produced detachable Tyres 1892 John Palmer presented the cotton cord tyre 1893 Tandem frame design perfected..
1895 Jean Loubeyre of Paris patented the first Derailleur gear.
1896 E. H. Hodgkinson invented the Gradient 3 Speed Gear. The
Sprocket cluster slid sideways with the smallest sprocket on the inside which
slid inside the hub when engaging the larger sprockets to keep the chain in
line. Plunger brakes fitted to suit solid tyres.
Thomas Johnson of America patented his 2 Speed Hub Gear, which influenced
William Reilly to patent his practical 2 Speed Hub. Gear. Reilly arranged with
James Archer to take out Patents on Hub Gears.
1897 Freewheels fitted to the Bicycle.
1899 Back Pedal Brakes presented.
1901 Henry Sturmey held similar hub gear patents to Reilly and Archer which resulted in Reilly, Archer and Sturmey combining to form the Sturmey Archer Hub Gears ,
1907 Due to the heavy demands Raleigh licensed B. S. A. to manufacture the Sturmey Archer 3 Speed Hub Gear.
1930s Revolutionary short wheel based frames presented
SAXON, BAINES, MANXMAN, HETCBR, ~S, BATES, PARIS.
1933 Quick release Hubs appeared.
1936 3/32 narrow chain and 5 Speed Clusters arrived.
1937 Derailleur Gears introduced in the Tour de France resulting in large bunch finishes which created faster and tougher stages.
1938 Derailleurs were in great demand, and Oscar Egg presented his “OSGEAR” 4 & 5 Speed gear with 3/32 drive claimed to be the lightest gear made It was a very popular gear but due to the 1939/1945 War production did not take place till late 1945.
1946 Front Derailleur first used for racing. This doubled up the number of gear ratios available but incompatible with the Osgear. This made the Osgear a 4 or 5 Speed gear with the opposition offering 8 and 10 speed gears.
1962 Alexander Moulton an English Engineer presented a soundly designed completely new Bicycle using Cross frame construction with 16 inch wheels. To reduce inertia he used 120 P.S.I. tyre pressure This started a flow of similar small wheel designs but Moulton patented suspension gave him the edge on his opposition.
1984 Francesco Moser broke the World 1 Hour record
The Low Profile Bike with closed disc wheels started an upsurge of Aerodynamics
designs which is still ongoing.
1987 Indexed Gearing, Clip in Pedals, to replace Toe clips.
1990 Cycling Computers and Cycling Heart rate Monitors
The history of the game is poorly documented, and nobody's really sure how it started.
One version has it that shortly after the invention of the pneumatic tire in the late 1800s, the English Foreign Office sent bikes as a gift to a local ruler somewhere in India. However, the recipient declared that pedalling was beneath his regal status, and gave the bikes to his stable hands. They could never afford horses to play the popular sport of equestrian polo, and started the first games of bike polo.
English enlisted men, similarly without means to support a string of polo ponies, took the game home with them. From there, the game spread throughout the UK, Europe and over to America. Later, as automobile sales took off, bike polo faded.
The other version is that the Irish bicycle champion Richard McReddy invented the game at his club in Dublin. The sport then emigrated to America through Irish sports clubs in the Boston, Massachusetts area, again to fade out as the car took over.
The game hung on in one form or another in the UK, Europe, America, India and South East Asia and was often used as' a training game for young equestrian players. Bicycle historian .Pryor Dodge has provided the US13PA with copies of old photographs from Ireland, France and America. The National Historical Bicycle Archive of American maintains similar evidence in its collection.
During the 1970s and very early 1980s, a group of equestrian players popularised bike polo in New York City's Central Park and along the East Coast. Unfortunately, its members went their separate ways just before mountain biking was born
The development of the mountain bike and the resurgence in bicycling of all kinds means that bike polo is on the rise again. The International Police Mountain Bike Association in Baltimore, Maryland uses bike polo as a training game. At the opposite end of the spectrum, Mark Gross, owner of Quick Messenger Service in Washington, DC, runs games nearly every weekend. Bike messengers to cops is a pretty wide spectrum of play for any game.
Bike Polo Part 2
Revival of bike polo as a sport
Bicycle polo is for anyone who can pedal a bike. Anticipation and a smooth swing count for more than pure speed and brute strength. As an inclusive sport, it's great, and I'm sure that’s part of the reason for the recent bike polo revival.
From almost nothing a few years ago, bicycle polo in the USA has blossomed to become a significant new sport in the public's awareness. Polo games are happening in at least fourteen states. Collegiate or club programs are running from Vermont to Hawaii, and even linking kip to Europe, where active groups are growing in number, particularly in France, Switzerland and Austria. Perhaps most important, schools are now beginning to adopt the game, and public parks and recreational districts are offering access to community playing fields.
The six Years that the UWA has been in existence have seen a growing media interest. Bike Polo has been featured on TV shows and documentaries, has been interviewed by radio stations across the country, and have been the subject of all
sorts of magazine and print articles, everything from respected newspapers like the LA Times to children’s' magazines. Nike, Sony and Rolling Stone Magazine have taken an interest in the sport's development. In February ' v 1995, the USI1PA toured college campuses with these heavy hitters, as part of' the Rolling Stones New Music Tour.
Exhibition matches have been played before serious crowds. They were playing during half‑time of' a Sacramento Goldminers football game before about 18,500 people. Also in front of 25,000 at a Major League soccer match in San Jose, California.
The most important promotional tool, though, is the US13PA web site at www.bikepolo.com, which has enjoyed hits from all 50 states in the US and over 90 other countries. It has been visited by over 760 educational institutions from around the world, including riders from twenty schools in England, four in Wales and three in Ireland.
All in all, bicycle polo looks to have a rosy future. It's bringing a lot of' young people together in a safe, fun team game, and it's a fun introduction to cycling for many who otherwise wouldn't think of' it.
The Basics
() The Parallel Rule.
The parallel rule helps provide safety for riders of all levels and is easy to explain to riders, parents and administrators, To hit the ball a rider must ride parallel to the side line for at least three bike lengths before making contact. Think of it as a right-angled triangle. The ball can travel the hypotenuse, but you need to ride the legs! This way, everyone approaches the ball from north and south, and the chance of a collision is dramatically reduced. In addition, riders must maintain 36 inches between bikes.
() High Sticking
No one wants a mouth full of mallet ‑ it gives your favourite malt and barley beverage a decidedly woody taste. For that reason, if two players are riding to the ball from opposite directions, and they are both within three bike lengths of the ball, they cannot raise their mallets above the wheels. In any case, the small inflated ball used by the USBPA will jump off the mallet with just a short back swing.
0 Field Size
An ideal field is 100 yards by 60 yards or whatever you can find. If the field is small, you can take a little air out of the ball. Do try for grass: when you fall it feels better than artificial turf or asphalt. Everyone goes over the handlebars at least once because they grab way too much left brake.
0 Teams
Usually four on four works best. If you really want a lot of riding, reduce the teams to three on three or two on two. Mixed teams are great, and rest assured, women can beat guys: it happens all the time. As one of our players said "It takes ovaries to play this game!"
() Length of Games
Four 10‑minute quarters (chukkas) are great, but do whatever you want.
0 Contact
None! You can hook a player's mallet and that is it. No mallets in the spokes or pulling riders off bikes. Play hard, play fair and nobody gets hurt!
0 Penalties
Free shots are awarded from the spot of the infraction. If it is close the goal, the defending team can line up all four players in the goal; bike frames parallel to the sideline, and turn their front wheels across the goalmouth. Use your mallet as a prop (see below) to hold your spot without touching a foot to the ground.
() Posting
Posting is the art of using your mallet to hold your balance. Put the head of the mallet on the ground and lean on the shaft. It is easy and a great way to play goal or look cool.
0 Do not let your feet touch the ground!
If your foot touches the ground, you must ride out of bounds at the nearest point to the infraction and then re‑enter the action. If you block a shot or a pass while your foot is on the ground, a free shot is awarded. If you do it while in your defensive goal or in stopping what appears to be a sure goal, the shooter gets credit for the goal.
0 Have fun
Go nuts, wear weird stuff (but always, always wear a helmet!), make a party out of it. This is not a mainstream sport, don't treat it like one!
Contact:
US Bicycle Polo Association, PO Box
19424, Sacramento, CA 95819‑0424,
USA. Tel +1 916 487 1670 Fax 916 487 1683 Email usbikepolo~Paol.com
Website www.bikepolo.com
More on Polo
from Peter Matthews, Ireland
Yes! I have played Bicycle Polo (for 27 years), in answer to your article in ‘Friends’ of July 2002. I started in 1966 after a match between Ireland and England, weekend 21/22 May to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Bicycle Polo. It was first started by R.J.Mecredy (Arjay), not Richard McReddy as in ‘Friends’ article. He was editor (and owner of “The Irish Cyclist” and the first game was played as “The Scalp” a beauty spot near his home on 4th October 1891. Then at Bray a seaside town up to at least 13th July 1905. [I spoke to an old lady who same it played there . P.M.]
The Irish Bicycle Polo Assoc opened their new ground at Sandymount Irish Cyclist 24.4.07
The constitution and rules of Assoc were adopted at a meeting held in Nov 1898 and revised April 1900, at that time there were many clubs playing the game in Ireland. The Silver Challenge Shield presented by “Centaur Cle Co. to the Irish Bicycle Polo Asso. Was won by the “Rathclaren Rovers” in 1898 & 1899.
Ohne Hast.C.C. introduced the game of Bicycel polo in 1891, and those who want to play should apply to Hon. Sec. Hamilton Oswald, Rathclaren Bray.
“Bicycle Polo was revived by “Corrance C.C. and a new Assoc. was formed. H.W.Bartleet wrote to Ireland for their rules. Hon.Sec.Mr C.Scott Bradwell, Holt, London. (Irsih Cyclist & Mtr Cyclist 27 Aug 1930). George Brake who first played in 1930 rewrote the rules as sec. British polo Assoc. in 1933.
It has been rehashed many times and many times re invented many times. In 1936 Australia claims to have invented it at Wonthaggi Victoria. USA at Long Beach CA 1937.
“Youths Companion” of 29/4/1926 says “bicycle Polo is the newest and fastest outgame for boys. A.G.Spalding makes Bicycle Polo mallets. It goes on and on. Paddy Gillespie of Strabane Northern Ireland told me he invented it in 1960’s. But Ireland was first, - in 1891.
[The game was revived in England 1904 and again in 1929, in 1937 over 60 teams in London against 10 in 1931. “Cycling”]
I have a lovely medal with crossed mallets and a ball, won by Rathclaren Rovers in the 1890’s.
There are five players in the game but six on the team and the sixth can be changed each chukka. The game lasts 90 mins @ 6 x 15 mins chukkas. The bike must have 26in wheels. (Usually with 12 guage spokes for strength). Must have fixed wheel, short bars, rubber pedals, and have no brakes. The pitch should be 110 yards x 80 yards max. or 90 x 60 yards min. Goals are 4 yards wide x 9 feet high. The pitch should be marked by two quarter lines @ 25 yards and half way line and a centre line. The ball is placed at the centre, a sprinter sprints from each right hand side of goals to get to the ball first, to start the game, and after each goal scored. All players MUST play right handed.
The first international was played at Crystal Palace London between Ireland and England in 1901. Ireland 10, England 5. In 1908 Ireland beat Germany 3 to 1 in an Olympic Games match at Shepherds Bush, London.
You can shoulder charge, you can’t hook a players mallet or play across his front wheel. If the ball hits a player, his mallet, or bike, while his foot is on the ground he is considered dismounted and a free is awarded against his team. We had a car sticker at one time which read, “Have you ever tried it on a bicycle?” “Bicycle Polo the game of to-day”
In 1968 a world body “The International Bicycle Polo Federation” was formed in Mexico City by reps from India, United Arab Rep., USA, Ceylon, Singapore, Belgium, and France. Great Britain applied for membership in 1970. Bicycle Polo was played in the Asian Games. The IBPF's website is at http://www.worldbicyclepolo.com
It was a tough game, but I loved it and would still like to be playing but it fell away in 1993. It fell away in 1948 in Dublin and came back for the 75th anniv in 1966. I played in England, Scotland & Northern Ireland in many international matches. Here is a suitable poem.
Poloitis
A disease that’s been contracted by a lot of cycling Blokes,
It’s really not a subject for cracking rotten jokes.
For polo makes for tough guys and I’ll say it very Plain,
It’s not a game for Pansies for it often gives you Pain.
It has fallen away in Scotland in the last few years. I don’t know if it’s still played in England, but I hope it will be revived yet again, or have you any idea if it’s still being played in America? If you have nay addresses please let me know. Herewith please find a few clippings. All the best. See you in Feb. Regards to Rod.
Star polo
This interesting game was first suggested by Mr.H.S.Owen of the Capitol Bi Club, Washington, D.C., and to whom the credit is mostly due for bringing it out. The small wheel is used as a mallet to drive the ball and when the players become skilled in the art the game is very interesting and exciting.
Rules of the Game
1st. The game shall consist of five points, the team winning the five points firt, being entitled to the game.
2nd. A point consists in propelling the Ball either intentionally or accidentally through either Goal. It must pass entirely through from the front.
3rd. A point shall always be scored for the side whose goal the ball passes through, without regard to which team puts the ball through.
4th. The goals hall be 20 inches in width.
5th. The goal markers shall be 20 inches in height.
6th. The ball must pass beneath the line drawn across the top of the goal markers.
7th. When the game is resumed after time has been called, the ball must be placed as in the beginning of the game.
Umpire
1st. There shall be three Umpires, one chosen by each team, and the third chosen by the other two.
2nd. The Umpire shall place the ball in the centre of the surface and station each team behind it’s respective goal; the players shall not be allowed to mount, untill the order to “PLAY” is given by the Umpires.
3rd. The Umpires may call time, in case of an accident to a player or his bicycle, upon request only.
4th. When a point is scored the Umpires shall call “goal” and the players must immediately dismount.
5th. The Umpires may allow such rests as they think proper, between points.
6th. The Umpires shall decided upon all points herein overlooked, according to their bet judgement in the matter.
Rules of Play
1st. The bicycle only must be used in propelling the Ball.
2nd. The player must be upon his machine when he strikes the ball, either in the Saddle or upon the step or frame.
3rd. A player shall not obstruct the entrance to a goal, while off his machine.
4th. A ball which is propelled before an accident to a player or his machine, is a fair ball, but if struck after such player is disabled and is unable to defend his goal, it is a foul ball.
5th. Any material departure from the above rules, shall e considered a foul, if so claimed by the opposite team, and upon the three “fouls”, the umpires shall declare the game in favor of the team claiming the fouls, by a score of 5-0.
by Rolf Lunsman
Before 1881 all bikes had fixed gears, no one had invented a way to make a bike freewheel. The development of the freewheeling mechanism played a large part of making bikes popular. Freewheels were quickly introduced into most popular bikes by the turn of the century, but road racing cyclists continued to use fixed wheels, firstly by choice and later by regulation, right up until the mid 1930s in Australia. Track racing bikes still use fixed wheels. If your bike has no sign of brakes ever having been fitted it could be a track racing bike, it could also be a road racing bike pre the mid 1930 or it could be from before 1900.
by Rolff Lunsmann. In reply to a letter regarding Bell saddles.
Leather saddles are the most comfortable type of saddle available for a bike. I have just returned from riding my bike from Brisbane to Sydney, 1300 km, with not a single moment of sore bottom due to my leather saddle. Your saddles sound like they might be Bells. If you have purchased them as NOS then you have a good buy whatever the price. For on-going care of them I suggest you have a look at:
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/bretonbikes/brooks.htm or
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/leather.html
making leather saddles http://www.sturmey-archer.com/index.htm
Bell were a large Australian manufacturer of leather saddles based, I think, in Sydney. I purchased a new Bell Series 70 saddle in the mid 1970s and it still serving me well on my 1948 Malvern Star. The series 70 saddle was a direct copy of the Brooks "Professional" a model that is still made by Brooks in England. My wife has a Bell saddle with an embossed kangaroo on it. This dates from 1960. Attached is an add for Bell from 1960. One person who is interested in Bell Saddles is Roger Roy who can be contacted at: ausroy@bigpond.com He would be very pleased to hear from you.
History of Road Cycling in Australia
from web site of “Cycling at the Australian Institute of Sport”
Cycling is broadly divided into track and road racing. Cycling has been a
competitive sport in Australia since the 1860s. The first organised cycle race
in Australia was held in Melbourne in 1869 and the Melbourne Cycle Club was
formed in 1878. After this there were regular bike races. The Australian Cycling
Federation was formed in 1900 and became part of the International cycling body
the UCI in 1903. (UCI stands for Union Cycliste Internationale). Cycling has enjoyed a resurgence in Australia due
largely to the success of Australian cyclists overseas. Technological advances are making
huge differences to the speeds of cyclists. At the 1992 Olympic Games,
Britain’s Chris
Boardman won the 4000m individual pursuit on his new “high tech” bike, using
superfast materials produced by Formula One racing car manufacturer, Lotus.
Cycling consists of many types of cycle racing but the two kinds conducted at
the Olympic and Commonwealth Games are road and track cycling.
DID YOU KNOW?
... Phil Anderson, Australia’s best known professional cyclist has finished in
the top ten in the Tour de France on five occasions. In 1981 he became the first
Australian to wear the yellow jersey as the winner of one stage of the famous
bicycle race the Tour de France.
... Edgar “Dunc” Gray won Australia a bronze medal in the 1000m Time Trial
at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics and then a gold medal at the 1932 Los Angeles
Olympics and the 1934 British Empire Games in the same event. He also won the
gold medal for the 1000m sprint at the 1938 British Empire Games. He was the flag- bearer for Australia in the
Opening Ceremony at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. ... From 1996 all events will be
open, that is including amateur and professional cyclists. Six Australian riders
are now riding as professionals in Europe.
Road Cycling
Road racing is a competition taking place on a road, usually a public road.
Distances vary from about 30km to 200km. In normal road races riders start in a
pack, and the winning of the race is often the result of “tactics”- as
groups or individuals attempt to “break away” from the pack so they can get
an advantage before the sprint finish.
Types of Races
There are several different forms of “bunch” road racing; handicap, stage
races, point- to- point racing, circuit racing and criterium racing. Criterium
racing is a popular form of road race where the roads in a town centre are
closed to traffic to form a course of 1- 2km and where the public can watch the race from the edge of the road.
Time Trials
Another form of road racing is the Time Trial, where individual riders or teams
of four start at intervals of 30 seconds or more in a race against the clock.
Individual time trials are generally raced over distances of up to 40km while
the road team trial at Olympic and Commonwealth Games is a 100km event. After 1996 the road team trial will no
longer be an Olympic event, as it will be replaced by the individual time trial.
Stage Races
Australia’s Commonwealth Bank Cycle Classic is a stage race made up of a range
of the different road events held over several days. It starts at Brisbane and
goes to Canberra via Sydney. In Australia the racing season is usually between
March and October
each year.
History of Track Cycling in Australia
from web site of “Cycling at the Australian Institute of Sport”
The Australian Cycling Federation was formed in 1900. Cycling has enjoyed a
resurgence in Australia due largely to the success of Australian cyclists
overseas. The 1993 Track Pursuit Team shattered the World Record on normal
racing cycles.
..........more to come........
Courtesy of Peter W Card - author of the book 'Early Vehicle Lighting'.
Bicycles in 1878
had lights. Have they improved?
By 1878 bicycle riding
had become very popular, with clubs springing up every week to further the needs
of this fairly new and exciting pastime. Great distances had already been
travelled so serious night riding was an obvious extension of a daytime pursuit.
The invention of the lamp probably evolved via the cyclists themselves , but
Joseph Lucas took a good idea at the right time and made it better by
understanding the problems. The construction of the lamp was excellent in its
simplicity. Each joint was soldered and in its upper parts where it got very
hot, riveted to prevent it breaking due to the heat from the lamp softening the
solder and the absence of shock resistance from bumps caused by the solid tyres.
This first bicycle lamp was designed to hang from the axle inside the spokes of
the large front wheel of the Ordinary or High Wheeler, access for lighting was through the
spokes. When the wheel is in motion the lamp would oscillate, taking the knocks
and major catastrophes in its stride. Joseph Lucas called his best quality lamps
"KING OF THE ROAD"
The introduction of
rear-driving safety bicycles in 1886 heralded the introduction of the safety
Head Lamp. This was the style of lamp that was stark and bold in appearance like
the hub lamp but had a parallel sprung bracket at the rear for fixing to the
spoon at the head of a safety bicycle, similar to the modern day arrangement.
Again Joseph Lucas named his best quality lamp in this range the KING OF THE
ROAD. The HOLOPHOTE lamp was designed by A. D. Davidson in 1889, it featured a
new style of oil reservoir and a good optical lens which proved popular.
In 1895 an entirely new design of bicycle lamp was patented, the legendary SILVER KING OF THE ROAD. This model was fitted with a Patent Lens Reflector, covered with a double convex lens in a Nickelled mount and this Lens improved the light and made it easy for cleaning. The Lamp itself was accessible for cleaning by opening the 'body' of the Lamp. It sold for 16 shillings. The SILVER KING OF THE ROAD was in continuous production albeit greatly modified until 1939.
Submitted
by Ken Ward
John
Boyd Dunlop revolutionised Transportation by his presentation of his pneumatic
tyre which he developed through experiments to make a more comfortable ride for
his son with his Boneshaker tricycle. He was born in Dreghorn Ayrshire Scotland
and was a Veterinary Surgeon in Belfast. In 1887.starting with water filled
hose-pipe he progressed till he made a canvas wrapped inflated rubber tube, with
canvas reinforcement, a one way valve to inflate and a tread for wear. The tyre
was covered with rubber solution to attach to the wheel rim. The tyre was
initially too bulky so a special bike had to be built with wide forks. It is
recorded that the tyres were fitted to an Edlin Quadrant Bicycle. on the 28
February 1888. The tyre was then presented after he had taken out a Patent. The
first reaction was of mockery. "Pudding" " Wind bag"
"Bladder Tyres". Then the Patents Office rejected his
Patent application as it was found that a Patent had been taken out by
R.W.Thompson in 1845 for a leather covered Pneumatic tube, for horse drawn
carriages wheels. Dunlop won the case arguing that his was only one application
of the Pneumatic principle. In the next few years the Trade went mad Tyre
manufacturers sprung up everywhere with unbelievable claims of their tyres
ability and superiority to their opposition. The speed and comfort of the safety
bicycle fitted with Pneumatic tyres made cycling available to everybody, In 1891
Edouard Michelin of France produced the Removable tubeless Tyre. ,And other
manufacturers followed. By 1895 all Bicycles sold were fitted with Pneumatic
Tyres.
The
1892 Trade Journal carried Advertising by some 10 Tyre manufacturers
Duplex
Rim & Tyres.
James
Pneumatic Tyres
Heales
Pneumatic Tyres.
Birts
Pneumatic Tyres Bates Pneumatic Tyres
Silvertown
Pneumatic Tyres Parkin & Wright Pneumatic Tyres.
Seddens
Pneumatic Tyres Olympic Pneumatic Tyres.
Preston
Davies Pneumatic Tyres.
The
long battle between the Penny Farthing and the Safety Bike ( Bone Shaker) was
resolved when the Safety Bike was fitted with Pneumatic Tyres and was converted
from a Bone Shaker to a comfort machine. The popularity of the Penny Farthing
waned due to the huge demand for these new comfort machines. Between 1892 and
1900 220,000 Bikes were sold in W.A. with 180 different Brands They were mainly
imported from England and Canada due to their advanced mass production
facilities. Massey Harris (today's Farming Machinery Manufacturer) were the
Canadian suppliers and Percy W.Armstrong (The originator of the Beverley to
Perth cycling Classic) was the first to import the English New Rapid Bicycle In
1895 advertising claims were made that the West Australian firm of Davis
Franklin had been manufacturing Bicycles exclusively for twenty years.