Thinking it up, and a great deal of it, is behind our present-day bicycles. Their precursor, the Draisine, was invented during the notorious \”Year without a Summer\” following the eruption of Tambora. Crops were failing, and it was hard to get feed for horses. The \”hobbyhorse\” didn\’t need either feed or stabling.

But what of the inventions that we don\’t hear about? Let\’s take a look at some of them:

The Mavic Mektronic sounds peculiar to me. Shifting the rear gears via radio frequency? With the plethora of electronic devices these days, I imagine that such a shifting system would suffer endless interference!

That banana hammock looks too \”load-specific\” to me. That is to say, I get the impression that the only thing it would be good for is to carry a single banana. I\’ll stick with my top-tube pouch.

WHAT is that Cyclomer thing? If I had to cross a pond, I\’d rather have a pirogue. My arms need more exercise, anyway.

FLIZ? That\’s the Draisine upside-down.

Bird of Prey looks like something for stunt riding.  I don\’t think I\’d be comfortable with my stomach pressing against that saddle.

Maybe some of these, like the Draisine, were invented out of need. \”Necessity is the mother of invention,\” it is said. So let\’s all keep thinking it up!