What factor might have slowed the adoption speed of the earliest, heaviest motorized conversions?
Answer
The average strong cyclist might have been just as fast or faster.
One overlooked factor contributing to the slow mass adoption of the first gasoline-powered motorized bicycle conversions was their comparatively poor performance metrics relative to human power. These early machines were often heavy due to engine size, utilized inefficient engines, and placed considerable stress on bicycle frames not designed for the vibration and weight. Consequently, an average, fit cyclist operating a well-maintained, purely pedal-powered bicycle could frequently match or even surpass the speed and reliability offered by these initial, cumbersome motorized contraptions, thereby reducing the immediate incentive for widespread consumer purchase.
Related Questions
What was the direct ancestor machine referred to as the *bone-shaker*?Who famously added pedals and cranks to create the "vélocipède à pédales"?Besides gasoline, what external power sources did inventors experiment with for early motorized assistance?How did some rudimentary gasoline conversions drive the rear wheel in the late 1890s?Which inventors secured a patent around 1897 for a mass-produced, gasoline-powered motorized bicycle?What specific motor configuration did Ogden Bolton Jr. use in his 1897 electric bicycle patent?What major technological limitation plagued early electric bicycles using lead-acid batteries?What does modern pedal-assist technology measure to provide a proportionate boost of power?How did the purpose of early 1900s gas bikes contrast with contemporary e-bikes?What factor might have slowed the adoption speed of the earliest, heaviest motorized conversions?