Gravelbiking. It's nothing new, you know.

But even back then they weren’t stupid enough to do it on drop bars 😛

Needs more plaid. 😀

#downhilling

Bikes were invented before tarmac was widespread, so yeah.

Needs more plaid

no, needs more denim! Anyone make jean tyres?

TheArtistFormerlyKnownAsSTR – Member
But even back then they weren’t stupid enough to do it on drop bars

Oh yes they were… 🙂

(Honister Pass)

(CTC May 1930 Vernon Blake)
Bike designed for rough roads.

The top pic he’s very definitely *not* doing it on drop bars 🙂

molgrips – Member
The top pic he’s very definitely *not* doing it on drop bars

He will be once he gets to the top though, just like the American sport of fat boys rolling downhill. 🙂

Doesn’t he look happy though?

It’s fantastic to see these old places before the age of tarmac and cars though.

Vernon Blake – sculptor, artist, linguist, traveller, philosopher, writer, scientist, inventor and cyclist. But unable to correctly fit a chain…

😉

teasel – Member
Vernon Blake – sculptor, artist, linguist, traveller, philosopher, writer, scientist, inventor and cyclist. But unable to correctly fit a chain…

Wrong.

That set up is deliberate, it was a pre-derailleur system. He used a stick to change gear on the move. It gave 6 ratios, enough for Alpine riding.

This explains the details of his floating chain gear system

Wrong.

You spotted that emoticon, right…

Here’s another, just for you. 🙄

1/10 for obvious trollage. 😀

Vernon Blake – sculptor, artist, linguist, traveller, philosopher, writer, scientist, inventor and cyclist. But unable to correctly fit a chain…

That set up is deliberate, it was a pre-derailleur system.

Why didn’t he invent the derailleur or a time machine? 😉

“The French bicycle tourist, writer and cycling promoter Paul de Vivie (1853–1930), who wrote under the name Velocio, invented a two speed rear derailleur in 1905 which he used on forays into the Alps”

that guy pushing up Honister does not look happy.

Euro – Member
Why didn’t he invent the derailleur or a time machine?

He may have gone on to develop just that idea but unfortunately he died a few weeks after that article. He was a close friend of Velocio.

teasel – Member .
You spotted that emoticon, right…

I did, but it made me realise that there probably would be people who hadn’t heard of the floating chain systems and think he hadn’t a clue. 🙂

Those pics are from the future, post Brexit.

kkyl – Member
that guy pushing up Honister does not look happy.

he knows that one day his lack of knowledge about gears will be ridiculed on STW
… also the in the old days the pub will definitely be shut

PS great article from ctc

antigee – Member
…PS great article from ctc

It’s quite interesting. I copied it because what he had there was the proto-mtb IMO. Sealed bearings, wide rims, specially made fat tyres etc.

If he had lived a bit longer his ideas might have gained traction and we would have had mtbs much earlier.

Oh, and almost certainly those were 650b (26 x 1½”) wheels. 🙂

Those pics are from the future, post Brexit.

I like it.

What a great article! Read whilst stuck under an sleeping baby, ill on his first birthday..,

I did, but it made me realise that there probably would be people who hadn’t heard of the floating chain systems and think he hadn’t a clue.

Phew. For a minute there I thought that maybe the stick he used to change gear was actually lodged up your jacksie. 🙂

Love the thread, though…

Love the thread, though…

It’s a shameless rip off of the original! 🙂

Don’t get me wrong, I like that one, too. But you started it, so…

Edit : 😉

And the horse you rode in on….!
🙂

😀

teasel – Member
Phew. For a minute there I thought that maybe the stick he used to change gear was actually lodged up your jacksie

No, that was the decrocheur. 🙂

Yeah, that’s the thing. Sounds a tad painful. Possibly good for ones Chalfonts should they get entangled…

From that article –

The real enemy of the cyclist is the cycle trader and manufacturer

Not much changes then… 🙂