ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
One-hundred and fourteen years ago
- Thread starter CharleyFarley
- Start date
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And probably sag something shocking - !
classic33
Leg End Member
United Kingdom Gold Medal winning pursuit team in the 1908 Olympics.
Clarence Kingsbury, Leon (Leonard) Meredith, Benjamin Jones and Ernest Payne.
OP
OP
CharleyFarley
Senior Member
- Location
- Japan
Although it's a drawing, I notice the drive side is on the left.
guitarpete247
Just about surviving
- Location
- Leicestershire
The team were:
- Benjamin Jones
- Clarence Kingsbury
- Leon Meredith
- Ernest Payne
This may have come up in the past, but why is the drive train of all bikes on the right - ?
Is there a techno reason for it, or is it simply someone's early idea that no-one ever questioned - ?
Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
It has and there are various theories:This may have come up in the past, but why is the drive train of all bikes on the right - ?
Is there a techno reason for it, or is it simply someone's early idea that no-one ever questioned - ?
(Cue patriotic music) It was invented in Britain where we drive on the left. This puts the drivetrain away from the kerb which is good for some reason or other. The rest of the world was so in awe of Britain at the time they followed suit. I'm not sure I buy this one. I can't particularly see the advantage of having the drive train away from the kerb, and if there was such an advantage then continental Europe and the US would have put it on the left - industry wasn't so globalised back then.
Most right-handed people prefer to mount from the left, by raising the right leg over, and choose to wheel the bike by holding it with the right hand, standing on the left of the bike. This puts the oily stuff on the opposite side to the rider. I guess that's possible.
It's due to the coriolis effect. But bikes in Australia are upside down so right is left and left is right.
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classic33
Leg End Member
Nay ladIt has and there are various theories:
It was invented in Britain where we drive on the left. This puts the drivetrain away from the kerb which is good for some reason or other. The rest of the world was so in awe of Britain at the time they followed suit. I'm not sure I buy this one. I can't particularly see the advantage of having the drive train away from the kerb, and if there was such an advantage then continental Europe and the US would have put it on the left - industry wasn't so globalised back then.
Most right-handed people prefer to mount from the left, by raising the right leg over, and choose to wheel the bike by holding it with the right hand , and standing on the left of the bike. This puts the oily stuff on the opposite side to the rider. I guess that's possible.
It's due to the coriolis effect. But bikes in Australia are upside down so right is left and left is right.
'ere be the true reason.
Long ago...in a blacksmith's forge just ouside Birmingham... the first bicycle was being invented.... the blacksmith calls to his apprentice....
" Jethroe, hand me that left handed sprocket I made last week..!"
(...a little time later...)
"Sorry, Mr Boothroyd, I can't find it - but here's that right-handed one you made - 'just in case'.."
"Ok, Jethroe, hand it me then - that'll have to so I s'pose..."
figbat
Slippery scientist
- Location
- South Oxfordshire, UK
I wonder if it's a carry-over from the olde dayes. Convention has it that you mount a horse from the left, since you would have your sword hanging from the left side of your body (being right-handed) hence it wouldn't get in the way during the mounting process. Time passes and getting on stuff from the left remains universal (see motorbikes, for example). So if you're getting on from the left then yes, why not put the oily stuff the other side. Horses, bicycles and motorcycles are right-hand drive. And helicopters (mostly).
Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
No. I've no idea really what it is. It's something to do with the rotation of the earth and the effect it has on weather systems.
I wasn't being serious when I suggested it may be a factor in drive train positioning.
matticus
Guru
Happy to. When I get round to it ...
Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
Question for horse experts like @KnittyNorah
Is horse riding equipment "handed"? For example are saddles specially shaped so it's easier to get on them from the left? That sort of thing. Do left-handers grumble when introduced to horse riding that it's the wrong way round? And would a horse be a bit disgruntled if you decided to mount from the "other" side, the one that it's not used to?
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classic33
Leg End Member
Ride side saddle and you'd be on the left.
The original Rover Safety Bicycle had the drive train on the left. It was one of the things that stood out when I saw one in a museum.
Some day I'm going to build a bike with the drive train on the left, just to see if anyone notices. Will have to be fixed wheel. The pedals will potentially unscrew as the cranks will need to be used on the wrong sides.
Some day I'm going to build a bike with the drive train on the left, just to see if anyone notices. Will have to be fixed wheel. The pedals will potentially unscrew as the cranks will need to be used on the wrong sides.
