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Why did we wait so long for the bicycle? (2019)

blog.rootsofprogress.org

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Re: Why did we wait so long for the bicycle? (2019)

#71

Post by yencabulator »

sysguest wrote: post #42
asdfsa32 wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is even a bigger factor, the environment, Bicycles are only as good as the roads you're riding them on. Off-road bicycle is a far more sophisticated and modern invention that builds on massive supply chain and production capabilities to be produced competitively compared to price of horse of yester-years.

for rough roads, fat-tires are the way to go

I lived near a church from 1200s surrounded by cobblestone, and owned a decent mountain bike at the time. Just no.

Re: Why did we wait so long for the bicycle? (2019)

#72

Post by kopirgan »

Theodores wrote: post #31
kopirgan wrote: post #22

Incredible to think that barely ten years after bicycles were somewhat perfected as useful, Wright brothers started testing their early plane designs.

I hate to burst your bubble, but... The Wright Brothers started in a bicycle workshop, as did practically every auto maker, in Europe, in the early days. The bicycle workshop was the cradle for many things. The Wright Brothers were not good for progress. Their game was patents. They were rent seekers, as in 'patent trolls', not innovators. This is why so much early aviation switched to Europe. With the bicycle the Wr…

I think a lot of early scientists and inventors got embroiled in patent disputes and lawsuits etc. In UK, mainland Europe too. Say what you might, money is a big motivator and that is what kept US going. Altruism is all fine for occasional gestures like not patenting some medicine or stuff like that but sustained innovation is basically a profit chasing exercise. And patents are its biggest enabler.

Anyway my comment was in the context of speed of innovation. Humanity that struggled to get a cycle going for 50 years managed to fly in the next 10 years and within the next 50, intercontinental regular passenger flights were common!

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