Phys.Org has an article titled
How the bicycle got its spokes. It has a brief history of bicycles and discusses how we got to where we are. It also points out that the easy part of developing new bicycles is over. Now they have to go deeper into the physics and engineering to make more improvements.
There was a story on the news a day or 2 back about somebody who has developed an electric bike that recharges on down hill slopes. The whole system is built into the hub of the rear wheel. You program it with an app on your smart phone.
I personally have a bike with a women's frame and an 8 speed internally geared rear hub. I am still working on getting the handle bars set up right so that I can ride sitting up instead of doubling up over the handle bars and having my back take a permanent set after I have been riding for a half an hour. I am not planning on entering any races or going mountain biking.
Bill Gill
