Forums: Chat Room: Who created bikes and why?
2/18/2008 10:14:35 PMWho created bikes and why? 

doink1962
Mentor, OH
age: 46

I want someone to tell me why someone made bicycles the way they did? What sense is it the mans bike has a bar and the womens does not? Is this not backwards?

2/18/2008 10:19:28 PMWho created bikes and why? 

tom_alan
Pueblo, CO
age: 49

Kind of like hemorrhoids and asteroids. Shouldn’t asteroids come from you ASS and hemorrhoids come from the hemisphere?

2/18/2008 10:20:29 PMWho created bikes and why? 

wonderturtle
Overland Park, KS
age: 41

in the old days..when WOMEN wore dresses..everywhere, for all occasions..even outside to play..they would have been revealing their undergarments if there was a bar there.. so the ladies bikes forever are without the support bar..

I assume that bar was originally intended for support of the bike..but yeah..it really is a nutcracker..ouch...not fair..not fair at all..

2/18/2008 10:21:04 PMWho created bikes and why? 

icesys
Newton, IA
age: 24

i have wanted to know this for a long time

2/18/2008 10:21:13 PMWho created bikes and why? 

lucasmcain
Ashford, WA
age: 59

way back when women wore dresses thats why no bar

2/18/2008 10:22:17 PMWho created bikes and why? 

gonesailingbabe
Des Moines, IA
age: 45

I still don't get why the guys have the ball bar??? My sons asked when they were young I just shrugged and said "Life ain't fair or easy pain happens."



2/18/2008 10:32:44 PMWho created bikes and why? 

tom_alan
Pueblo, CO
age: 49

Ok’ here is the reason. The dress thing is right. The reason that the men’s frame has remained the same is the triangle formed by the head tube, seat tube, down tube and top tube is much stronger than a ladies frame. Therefore, with the idea that men are heavier than women the bike frame needed to have the extra strength.

2/18/2008 10:50:10 PMWho created bikes and why? 

aboomer
Hot Springs National Park, AR
age: 50

And all this time I thought that was where you hung the saddle bags!!!

2/19/2008 6:23:34 AMWho created bikes and why? 

doink1962
Mentor, OH
age: 46

O.k , I get the history part of it but with todays technology and stronger alloys you would think someone would change the design. I think it is just some sick bastard who was castrated as a child and wants payback on all males!

2/19/2008 8:56:41 AMWho created bikes and why? 

tom_alan
Pueblo, CO
age: 49

They did change the design a few years back and introduced the designs during the Tour De France. UCI (United Cycling International) had a fit because the teams with the money had an "unfair advantage"; Therefore, UCI spelled out what the shape of the bike should be. They even set a minimum weight limit so now they even weigh the bikes before and after TT (Time trials(sp)) and mountain stages and most of the single day races.

At the Giro De Italia(sp)(Tour of Italy) a few years back one of the Pro teams were not allowed to start unless they added weight to their bikes. Their TT bikes were ok so they were allowed to ride the first day Prologue and had Specialize overnight bikes to them so they could race. The second day the entire team showed up in black and white striped uniforms with the word on the back stating "Legalized By Specialize". Specialize being their bike sponsor. The team got a heavy fine for not wearing their proper uniform; however, Specialize picked up the tab.

Since UCI governs what goes in Pro-AM Bicycle Racing the frames remain the same as you see them today. This has only applied to the road bike frames. UCI does allow a sloping top tube or even a single fat sloping tube for mountain bike racing.

And that’s the rest of the story.