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aluminum bike from 1896

Old 12-03-08, 03:08 AM
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aluminum bike from 1896

I never have posted in this forum, but this came across my local bike club listserv, and thought it would be appreciated here...

https://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2008...attMcNeece.htm
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Old 12-03-08, 04:04 AM
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Very cool thanks.
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Old 12-03-08, 07:44 AM
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Is that chain wider than usual (for a non-derailleur chain), or am I just being confused by perspective?
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Old 12-03-08, 07:56 AM
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'80s Cannondale track bike...






JK, and yes that chain is wide and it's a skiptooth.
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Old 12-03-08, 08:18 AM
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That's one nice looking bike. I initially read the thread title as 'Aluminium bike from 1986", and was wondering what was so cool about that. 1896 is much cooler.

I really do like the different handlebar styles that some of the real old bikes have. I know that 'standard' road drops are probably the most efficient/comfortable (certainly for me), but some of the short-lived handlebars had style.

I'd love to someday get my hands on a set of Lauterwasser 'drops'.
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Old 12-03-08, 09:56 AM
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That is a piece of art, any tech museum would be happy to own such a bike. The owner should talk to the Smithsonian!
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Old 12-03-08, 10:06 AM
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Thanks for sharing that, Overthere!

In 1896, aluminium was still a fairly expensive metal. Charles Martin Hall received a patent for cheap extraction of aluminium from bauxite in 1888, and co-founded the ALCOA company in 1889. So with the space of less than ten years the price of the metal had dropped enough to be used for a bicycle. Amazing...

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Old 12-03-08, 10:53 AM
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Interesting stuff, the geometry even looks way ahead of its time, im sure most bicycles had a silly 150cm wheelbase going on! Not liking the sloping TT though, just like todays machines!
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Old 12-03-08, 12:28 PM
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Originally Posted by yohannrjm
I'd love to someday get my hands on a set of Lauterwasser 'drops'.
I agree. Someone should at least do a reissue of this style!
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Old 12-03-08, 01:44 PM
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Nice!

Per what I have read a French company also did an aluminum bike in that era. Lots of experiments going on then.

Unfortunately modern aluminum alloys were unknown at the time and the frames fatigued pretty fast apparently. Note that the tube diameters are about the same as steel frames of the era.
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