Why isn't the drive train...
05-18-07, 10:51 AM
#1
I need more cowbell.
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Why isn't the drive train...
on the left hand side on British bikes? They do ride on the wrong -- oops, I mean other -- side of the road, after all.
So why is the drive train on the right hand side of bikes, anyway? Anyone know?
So why is the drive train on the right hand side of bikes, anyway? Anyone know?
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05-18-07, 10:56 AM
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Only in the northern hemisphere
05-18-07, 11:24 AM
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Most folks are right handed. Therefore, cavalry soldiers have worn their swords on their left hips for the last, oh, 2600 years or so. Therefore, humans mount horses from the left side and train horses to be mounted from the left side. Therefore, the bicycle, introduced into a world that rode horses and at a time when armies still relied on cavalries, have their drive trains on the right side, away from the mounting rider, and their kick stands on the left side, from which the rider would approach.
You will find that the drivetrain on modern motorcycles may be on either side, but even though motorcycle riders don't - normally - wear swords, the kickstand is always on the left to this day.
TCS
You will find that the drivetrain on modern motorcycles may be on either side, but even though motorcycle riders don't - normally - wear swords, the kickstand is always on the left to this day.
TCS
05-18-07, 11:27 AM
#4
Time for a change.
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Originally Posted by Digital Gee
on the left hand side on British bikes? They do ride on the wrong -- oops, I mean other -- side of the road, after all.
So why is the drive train on the right hand side of bikes, anyway? Anyone know?
So why is the drive train on the right hand side of bikes, anyway? Anyone know?
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Spike Milligan
How long was I in the army? Five foot seven.
Spike Milligan
05-18-07, 11:30 AM
#5
I need more cowbell.
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Originally Posted by tcs
Most folks are right handed. Therefore, cavalry soldiers have worn their swords on their left hips for the last, oh, 2600 years or so. Therefore, humans mount horses from the left side and train horses to be mounted from the left side. Therefore, the bicycle, introduced into a world that rode horses and at a time when armies still relied on cavalries, have their drive trains on the right side, away from the mounting rider, and their kick stands on the left side, from which the rider would approach.
You will find that the drivetrain on modern motorcycles may be on either side, but even though motorcycle riders don't - normally - wear swords, the kickstand is always on the left to this day.
TCS
You will find that the drivetrain on modern motorcycles may be on either side, but even though motorcycle riders don't - normally - wear swords, the kickstand is always on the left to this day.
TCS
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05-18-07, 12:41 PM
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Originally Posted by stapfam
Like all good things- The Americans copied us and they got it wrong- So Don't blame us for your screw-ups.
05-18-07, 12:59 PM
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Originally Posted by Digital Gee
Now that makes so much sense! I never thought about it that way...
05-18-07, 01:20 PM
#8
I need more cowbell.
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Originally Posted by card
so now you know on which side to carry your sword while riding Rooooby.
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05-18-07, 01:54 PM
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let us not forget why a man's shirt/jacket usually has the buttons on his left and the button holes on his right...easier to slowly unbutton a jacket with the left hand...while preparing to draw a weapon with the right hand...
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05-18-07, 02:38 PM
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Now if you liken a bike to a Horse- then the only ones on horses were the knights and their Minions.
You get the cheaper bikes like the OCR3's and the treks and they would be for the minions. Then the valets would get the Lemond's and then finally the Knights would be on the Roubaix's. The carbon fibre and Ti would only be for the royalty. Problem is that there were a lot of One eared horses about as the knights were a bit ungainly in their swordmanship- so the knights were given Lances. They could handle them but the only problem was that the Lance was always miles ahead of the pelaton. So no-one ever saw the devastation that one lance could cause to the opposition. Then they invented TV so everyone could see the power of the Lance- but then the French started watching this new TV and saw the strength of the Lance and said it was cheating and tried to get it banned.
You get the cheaper bikes like the OCR3's and the treks and they would be for the minions. Then the valets would get the Lemond's and then finally the Knights would be on the Roubaix's. The carbon fibre and Ti would only be for the royalty. Problem is that there were a lot of One eared horses about as the knights were a bit ungainly in their swordmanship- so the knights were given Lances. They could handle them but the only problem was that the Lance was always miles ahead of the pelaton. So no-one ever saw the devastation that one lance could cause to the opposition. Then they invented TV so everyone could see the power of the Lance- but then the French started watching this new TV and saw the strength of the Lance and said it was cheating and tried to get it banned.
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How long was I in the army? Five foot seven.
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How long was I in the army? Five foot seven.
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05-18-07, 02:43 PM
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Originally Posted by stapfam
Now if you liken a bike to a Horse- then the only ones on horses were the knights and their Minions.
You get the cheaper bikes like the OCR3's and the treks and they would be for the minions. Then the valets would get the Lemond's and then finally the Knights would be on the Roubaix's. The carbon fibre and Ti would only be for the royalty. Problem is that there were a lot of One eared horses about as the knights were a bit ungainly in their swordmanship- so the knights were given Lances. They could handle them but the only problem was that the Lance was always miles ahead of the pelaton. So no-one ever saw the devastation that one lance could cause to the opposition. Then they invented TV so everyone could see the power of the Lance- but then the French started watching this new TV and saw the strength of the Lance and said it was cheating and tried to get it banned.
You get the cheaper bikes like the OCR3's and the treks and they would be for the minions. Then the valets would get the Lemond's and then finally the Knights would be on the Roubaix's. The carbon fibre and Ti would only be for the royalty. Problem is that there were a lot of One eared horses about as the knights were a bit ungainly in their swordmanship- so the knights were given Lances. They could handle them but the only problem was that the Lance was always miles ahead of the pelaton. So no-one ever saw the devastation that one lance could cause to the opposition. Then they invented TV so everyone could see the power of the Lance- but then the French started watching this new TV and saw the strength of the Lance and said it was cheating and tried to get it banned.
05-19-07, 06:01 AM
#13
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Originally Posted by dauphin
let us not forget why a man's shirt/jacket usually has the buttons on his left and the button holes on his right...easier to slowly unbutton a jacket with the left hand...while preparing to draw a weapon with the right hand...
05-19-07, 08:07 AM
#14
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Originally Posted by stapfam
Now if you liken a bike to a Horse- then the only ones on horses were the knights and their Minions.
You get the cheaper bikes like the OCR3's and the treks and they would be for the minions. Then the valets would get the Lemond's and then finally the Knights would be on the Roubaix's. The carbon fibre and Ti would only be for the royalty. Problem is that there were a lot of One eared horses about as the knights were a bit ungainly in their swordmanship- so the knights were given Lances. They could handle them but the only problem was that the Lance was always miles ahead of the pelaton. So no-one ever saw the devastation that one lance could cause to the opposition. Then they invented TV so everyone could see the power of the Lance- but then the French started watching this new TV and saw the strength of the Lance and said it was cheating and tried to get it banned.
You get the cheaper bikes like the OCR3's and the treks and they would be for the minions. Then the valets would get the Lemond's and then finally the Knights would be on the Roubaix's. The carbon fibre and Ti would only be for the royalty. Problem is that there were a lot of One eared horses about as the knights were a bit ungainly in their swordmanship- so the knights were given Lances. They could handle them but the only problem was that the Lance was always miles ahead of the pelaton. So no-one ever saw the devastation that one lance could cause to the opposition. Then they invented TV so everyone could see the power of the Lance- but then the French started watching this new TV and saw the strength of the Lance and said it was cheating and tried to get it banned.
Anything that devastates the French can't be all bad.
05-19-07, 08:57 AM
#15
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The historical explanation given makes alot of sense. American Indians mounted their horses from the right side, but they generally didn't carry lances.
If the driveline were on the left, cog or freewheel attachment would have to be via an anticlockwise (nonstandard) thread.
If the driveline were on the left, cog or freewheel attachment would have to be via an anticlockwise (nonstandard) thread.
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
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Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
05-19-07, 06:01 PM
#16
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Originally Posted by John E
The historical explanation given makes alot of sense. American Indians mounted their horses from the right side, but they generally didn't carry lances.
If the driveline were on the left, cog or freewheel attachment would have to be via an anticlockwise (nonstandard) thread.
If the driveline were on the left, cog or freewheel attachment would have to be via an anticlockwise (nonstandard) thread.
And in every western I ever saw, the indians circled the enemy CCW, so they could shoot bows and arrows right handed, and don't forget the Coup Stick.
05-19-07, 08:42 PM
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Originally Posted by John E
The historical explanation given makes alot of sense.
TCS
