What year did Lewis Evans create the frame-suspended 'Cushion Wheel' bicycle?
Answer
1888
The earliest recorded instance of a bicycle frame incorporating suspension features is attributed to Lewis Evans around the year 1888. This machine, known as the 'Cushion Wheel' bicycle, was designed as a foundational effort to improve the ride quality on the rough roads of the time, which often featured solid tires and rigid frames. Evans achieved this dampening effect not through modern shock absorbers or linkages, but by building the frame using strips of metal that were fastened together with bolts and integrated springs, prioritizing vertical compliance specifically for rider comfort.
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