As a transgender woman, I often ask, "What if?"
What if I had been assigned, at birth, the gender and name under which I live?
What kind of cyclist might I have been?
Would I ever need to look back?
Showing posts with label What If?. Show all posts
Showing posts with label What If?. Show all posts
16 October 2022
12 August 2017
Motor Doping In 1865?
Yesterday, I indulged in a bit of "What If?"cycling history. If Greg LeMond hadn't won the 1986 Tour, would Americans be aware of bike racing at all? If he hadn't finished--and won--the 1989 Tour in such dramatic fashion, would many Americans care? And, if Lance hadn't raced from 1999 to 2005, would any cyclist have become a celebrity in the US?
Now, I'm going to engage in a bit of "What If?" about the bicycle itself.
What if the "safety" bicycle--one with two wheels of equal (or nearly equal) size, i.e., what most of us ride today--hadn't been invented? What if we were still riding "penny farthings": bikes with on which the pedals and cranks are affixed to the axle of the front wheel, which is usually much bigger than the rear?
Well, for one thing, to obtain a gear anything like what I ride normally, I would need a front wheel that's as tall--or even a bit taller--than I am! So would most cyclists, I believe. Since I have never ridden a "penny farthing", I can only imagine how it feels. My guess is that it's something like riding a fixed-gear bike that's a few sizes too large. Riding a fixie on a frame that's a couple of centimeters too high is difficult enough; I don't want to think about what it would be like on a bike that's about twice as high as what I ride!
I won't even try to conceive of what it would be like to ride such a bike with a motor.
Apparently, though, someone has thought about it.
The designers of Ding3000, a German design studio, worked with BASF to come up with what riders in the Tour, Giro and Vuelta might be riding if someone hadn't realized that a bike with two wheels the same size and a gear-and-chain drive is safer and more efficient than a bike with a very tall front wheel.
You see, this bike not only has a motor in it (which makes the latest form of "doping" possible), it is made of "thermoplastic polyurethane". Now, we all know that the carbon fiber tubes used in bike frames are woven strands bound together with a resin (plastic). So, in terms of technology, the modern penny-farthing would seem to be a cousin-in-an-alternative universe to the bikes ridden in today's races.
But you could take this modern relic on your daily commute: It is equipped with puncture-proof tires and integrated LED lighting. And, I guess that sitting up so high on the wheel would make you visible to drivers!
What would it be like to see throngs of cyclists pedaling penny-farthings to work every day, or taking trips to parks and beaches?
Or--what if all of those guys (nearly all are male) who deliver pizzas and Chinese food were to trade their e-bikes or motorized bikes for the Ding3000-BASF concoction?
Now, I'm going to engage in a bit of "What If?" about the bicycle itself.
What if the "safety" bicycle--one with two wheels of equal (or nearly equal) size, i.e., what most of us ride today--hadn't been invented? What if we were still riding "penny farthings": bikes with on which the pedals and cranks are affixed to the axle of the front wheel, which is usually much bigger than the rear?
Well, for one thing, to obtain a gear anything like what I ride normally, I would need a front wheel that's as tall--or even a bit taller--than I am! So would most cyclists, I believe. Since I have never ridden a "penny farthing", I can only imagine how it feels. My guess is that it's something like riding a fixed-gear bike that's a few sizes too large. Riding a fixie on a frame that's a couple of centimeters too high is difficult enough; I don't want to think about what it would be like on a bike that's about twice as high as what I ride!
I won't even try to conceive of what it would be like to ride such a bike with a motor.
Apparently, though, someone has thought about it.
The designers of Ding3000, a German design studio, worked with BASF to come up with what riders in the Tour, Giro and Vuelta might be riding if someone hadn't realized that a bike with two wheels the same size and a gear-and-chain drive is safer and more efficient than a bike with a very tall front wheel.
You see, this bike not only has a motor in it (which makes the latest form of "doping" possible), it is made of "thermoplastic polyurethane". Now, we all know that the carbon fiber tubes used in bike frames are woven strands bound together with a resin (plastic). So, in terms of technology, the modern penny-farthing would seem to be a cousin-in-an-alternative universe to the bikes ridden in today's races.
But you could take this modern relic on your daily commute: It is equipped with puncture-proof tires and integrated LED lighting. And, I guess that sitting up so high on the wheel would make you visible to drivers!
What would it be like to see throngs of cyclists pedaling penny-farthings to work every day, or taking trips to parks and beaches?
Or--what if all of those guys (nearly all are male) who deliver pizzas and Chinese food were to trade their e-bikes or motorized bikes for the Ding3000-BASF concoction?
14 September 2016
Propelled To Insanity
If you are of a certain age (i.e., my age), you recall the early years of Saturday Night Live. Some of the most memorable moments came during some of the shows-within-the-show.
One such show was "What If?", which took zany, absurd takes on historical figures and events. One episode featured Superman landing in Nazi Germany instead of Kansas; another had Napoleon fighting the Battle of Waterloo with a B 52 bomber. Perhaps the most famous episode of all was the "What If Eleanor Roosevelt Could Fly?" sketch.
That got me to thinking: What if the Wright Brothers couldn't--or didn't--fly?
Or what if they had stuck to their original occupations as bike mechanics and designers?
I found this propellered bike on Strangefunkidz.com, but couldn't find any other information about it. I'd love to know how it was built and how much it was ridden--or whether it's still intact!
One such show was "What If?", which took zany, absurd takes on historical figures and events. One episode featured Superman landing in Nazi Germany instead of Kansas; another had Napoleon fighting the Battle of Waterloo with a B 52 bomber. Perhaps the most famous episode of all was the "What If Eleanor Roosevelt Could Fly?" sketch.
That got me to thinking: What if the Wright Brothers couldn't--or didn't--fly?
Or what if they had stuck to their original occupations as bike mechanics and designers?
I found this propellered bike on Strangefunkidz.com, but couldn't find any other information about it. I'd love to know how it was built and how much it was ridden--or whether it's still intact!
20 August 2012
What If They Had Critical Mass Back Then?
In its early years, Saturday Night Live episodes included a bit called "What If" History. Perhaps the most famous episode was "What If Eleanor Roosevelt Could Fly?"
Now, here's something the SNL writers never considered: What If Critical Mass Had Existed In 1949?
I don't know how the world would be a different place. But I would imagine that their rides might have looked something like this:
These cyclists were rolling along Market Street, where it met Fulton Street, in San Francisco on 7 April 1949. This intersection no longer exists: the UN Plaza now stands in its place and, as a result, Fulton no longer meets Market.
The first Critical Mass ride commenced in San Francisco, not far from where this photo was taken, in 1992. I wonder whether that ride included any of the cyclists in the photo.
Now, here's something the SNL writers never considered: What If Critical Mass Had Existed In 1949?
I don't know how the world would be a different place. But I would imagine that their rides might have looked something like this:
 |
| From SF Gate Photo Archives |
These cyclists were rolling along Market Street, where it met Fulton Street, in San Francisco on 7 April 1949. This intersection no longer exists: the UN Plaza now stands in its place and, as a result, Fulton no longer meets Market.
The first Critical Mass ride commenced in San Francisco, not far from where this photo was taken, in 1992. I wonder whether that ride included any of the cyclists in the photo.
05 June 2012
A Childhood Dream In Hipster Hook
Once again, my travels took me through Hipster Hook. And, as in previous trips through the area, I saw some interesting bikes.
A few days ago, I saw a vintage Bob Jackson and Masi parked next to each other near Manhattan Avenue in Greenpoint. Today, just a couple of blocks away, I saw another bike that made me emotional for a different reason.
While I was happy to see the Bob Jackson and Masi just because they're such nice bikes, the one I saw today stirred up a memory. Actually, a whole bunch of memories.
Mind you, it's not a bike I ever had. I didn't even have one that was remotely like it--not any that I remember, anyway. Rather, it's a bike I might have had if my childhood had been different.
When I say "different," I'm not talking about having been richer (or poorer) or grown up in some other neighborhood, city, state or country. I'm talking, of course, about the bike I might have had if I'd grown up as a girl named Justine rather than a boy named Nick.
As best as I can tell, this Schwinn Hollywood is from 1967. At least, that is when Schwinn offered this model (and a few others) in this color.
Of course I love the curves on the bike. But, as you can probably tell, I love the color even more. Yes, even as a 12-year-old boy I loved that color--and the shape of the bike. Of course, in the time and place where I grew up, I wasn't going to admit that.
I was tempted to wait for its owner and offer to buy it. Somehow I think she (or he?) wouldn't have sold it. Even if its owner had no idea of how rare (and possibly valuable) that bike could be, I think she or he is taken with its charm--not to mention its color!
Besides, I'd need more space (not to mention time and money) for it. I don't think I'd want to leave it outside at night, even in my relatively safe neighborhood. A childhood dream deserves better.
A few days ago, I saw a vintage Bob Jackson and Masi parked next to each other near Manhattan Avenue in Greenpoint. Today, just a couple of blocks away, I saw another bike that made me emotional for a different reason.
While I was happy to see the Bob Jackson and Masi just because they're such nice bikes, the one I saw today stirred up a memory. Actually, a whole bunch of memories.
Mind you, it's not a bike I ever had. I didn't even have one that was remotely like it--not any that I remember, anyway. Rather, it's a bike I might have had if my childhood had been different.
When I say "different," I'm not talking about having been richer (or poorer) or grown up in some other neighborhood, city, state or country. I'm talking, of course, about the bike I might have had if I'd grown up as a girl named Justine rather than a boy named Nick.
As best as I can tell, this Schwinn Hollywood is from 1967. At least, that is when Schwinn offered this model (and a few others) in this color.
Of course I love the curves on the bike. But, as you can probably tell, I love the color even more. Yes, even as a 12-year-old boy I loved that color--and the shape of the bike. Of course, in the time and place where I grew up, I wasn't going to admit that.
I was tempted to wait for its owner and offer to buy it. Somehow I think she (or he?) wouldn't have sold it. Even if its owner had no idea of how rare (and possibly valuable) that bike could be, I think she or he is taken with its charm--not to mention its color!
Besides, I'd need more space (not to mention time and money) for it. I don't think I'd want to leave it outside at night, even in my relatively safe neighborhood. A childhood dream deserves better.
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