|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#11
|
|||
|
|||
Why was cycling not included in the ancient Olympics?
"Les Earnest" wrote in message
... "Necessity is the mother of invention" according to an old saying. Bicycles were needed as soon as roads began to be built around 3500 BC. Technology adequate to build a bike existed by 2000 BC Let's think about this. The roads were either dirt roads or, in Roman Empire days, slabs of stone. Wheels would have been either wood or metal. I don't recall any rubber technology at this time. A wooden wheel on a limestone slab road would have been a rough ride, indeed. Perhaps the bicycle actually WAS invented, but the styrofoam helmet wasn't, and the inventor died of a head injury before the bicycle caught on? yet the first proto-bicycle did not appear until more than 3,500 years later. Had the bicycle been invented earlier, world history would have been quite different. Why did it take so long for somebody to try balancing on two wheels? A bigger mystery: why did the wheel never catch on in the pre-Columbian western hemisphere? |
Ads |
#12
|
|||
|
|||
Why was cycling not included in the ancient Olympics?
http://www.worldnakedbikeride.org/
Carl Sundquist wrote: "Ilan Vardi" wrote in message If you've ever tried to ride a bicycle nude, you wouldn't have to ask. You've never heard of the Naked Criterium? |
#13
|
|||
|
|||
Why was cycling not included in the ancient Olympics?
Andes Mountains?
Mike Kruger wrote: snip A bigger mystery: why did the wheel never catch on in the pre-Columbian western hemisphere? |
#14
|
|||
|
|||
Why was cycling not included in the ancient Olympics?
On Mon, 9 Aug 2004 22:29:33 -0500, "Mike Kruger"
wrote: [snip] A bigger mystery: why did the wheel never catch on in the pre-Columbian western hemisphere? Dear Mike, A common explanation is an abundance of slave labor and a lack of draft animals. Carl Fogel |
#15
|
|||
|
|||
Why was cycling not included in the ancient Olympics?
Ilan Vardi wrote:
If you've ever tried to ride a bicycle nude, you wouldn't have to ask. These two don't seem to be having any problems (except possibly with the guy keeping his eyes on the road). Of course they are wearing helmets. http://nordicgroup.us/s78/images/swedehelm.jpg |
#16
|
|||
|
|||
Why was cycling not included in the ancient Olympics?
In article ,
Mike Schwab wrote: Andes Mountains? That would have been the forerunner of mountain bike DH: push the bike up the hill, then ride it back down. Mike Kruger wrote: snip A bigger mystery: why did the wheel never catch on in the pre-Columbian western hemisphere? -- tanx, Howard So far, so good, so what? remove YOUR SHOES to reply, ok? |
#17
|
|||
|
|||
Why was cycling not included in the ancient Olympics?
There weren't enough drugs back then.
"Les Earnest" wrote in message ... "Necessity is the mother of invention" according to an old saying. Bicycles were needed as soon as roads began to be built around 3500 BC. Technology adequate to build a bike existed by 2000 BC yet the first proto-bicycle did not appear until more than 3,500 years later. Had the bicycle been invented earlier, world history would have been quite different. Why did it take so long for somebody to try balancing on two wheels? For a closer look at this and related mysteries go to http://home.pacbell.net/learnest/cyclops and click on "Why was cycling not included in the ancient Olympics?" -Les Earnest |
#18
|
|||
|
|||
Why was cycling not included in the ancient Olympics?
On Mon, 09 Aug 2004 21:44:36 -0700, Peter
wrote: Ilan Vardi wrote: If you've ever tried to ride a bicycle nude, you wouldn't have to ask. These two don't seem to be having any problems (except possibly with the guy keeping his eyes on the road). Of course they are wearing helmets. http://nordicgroup.us/s78/images/swedehelm.jpg I can see the headlights, but neither seem to have rear reflectors Steve |
#19
|
|||
|
|||
Why was cycling not included in the ancient Olympics?
Steve Walton wrote:
On Mon, 09 Aug 2004 21:44:36 -0700, Peter wrote: Ilan Vardi wrote: If you've ever tried to ride a bicycle nude, you wouldn't have to ask. These two don't seem to be having any problems (except possibly with the guy keeping his eyes on the road). Of course they are wearing helmets. http://nordicgroup.us/s78/images/swedehelm.jpg I can see the headlights, but neither seem to have rear reflectors Hard to be sure, but I believe there's one mounted on the back of his rear rack. Hers probably has one in the same location but it's outside of the picture. Given their attire, the skirt guards around the rear wheels don't appear to be necessary. |
#20
|
|||
|
|||
Why was cycling not included in the ancient Olympics?
Ilan Vardi Wrote: Now that you mention it, the steam engine could have also been invented in Ancient times. You can check out their technological ideas by looking up Vitruvius. In the wild claim department: According to my Old History Proffessors at the University there was actually some evidence that there was a rudimentary steam-contraption involved in opening temple doors in Egypt (Around 200 BC-200 AD). I may be buggered if I remember wich temple. More seriously: Carl Fogel gives the best explanation why steam(and other clever ideas) never got incorporated: There was abundant slave-labor and wealth(status!) was measured by land, not by hard cash. Ilan Vardi Wrote: I don't quite agree with your statement about the advantage of bicycles in military campaigns. I don't recall too much use for them in the last world wars. I only know about Dieter http://www.andgor.com/ddieter.html -ilan Considering that during WW2 most soldiers were infantry men and trucks were in short supply (especially with the Axis), I would surmise bikes were better as trotting to the front, especially in Western Europe (Russia was more for Super-Mountainbikes? I also read that Yama****a used Divisions on bikes to blitz the British in Malakka. (Now that must have been though, biking along a SE-Asian jungle-road I am always ready for more historical trivia, especially if it is dodgy -- Tuschinski |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Why was cycling not included in the ancient Olympics? | Les Earnest | Racing | 26 | August 11th 04 06:33 AM |
"I am a cycling nerd - and proud of it" | davek | UK | 13 | August 10th 04 09:18 PM |
Wachovia Cycling Series - Come meet the teams! | Steve | Marketplace | 0 | May 28th 04 02:46 PM |
SBS TV's Track Cycling Coverage, May | hippy | Australia | 2 | May 9th 04 04:16 AM |
FS: VHS Cycling Videos-Merckx | John Garbe | Marketplace | 0 | February 18th 04 03:07 AM |