This late-19th-century volume on the science and mechanics of the bicycle remains unsurpassed in its thorough, accurate, technical coverage of the subject. More than 560 illustrations, diagrams, figures, and tables complement an exhaustive examination of such topics as the development of cycles, kinematics, stability, steering, the frame, gears, stresses, and mechanical components.
Bicycles & Tricycles
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Customer Reviews
“ Sharp used hodographs to demonstrate that the rotary cranked-chain driven bicycle is optimal, so establishing the wondrous machine we all know and love today. ”
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Honestly, I have studied some of the older bikes, like highwheelers and the safeties and even the racing frames used by 6-day racers like Major (Marshall) Taylor... and I honestly thought most of the early bikes were designed by luck and a prayer.
Sharp shows how much engineering knowledge was known about bicycles at the early parts of the 20th century. No wonder bikes were the precursors to --the automobile, --the airplane, --Harleys!
Concerns about bottom-bracket flex, weight distribution, climbing efficiency, transmission systems, steering control, comfort, stability at speed, etc. are all covered. Various materials and their pros and cons are covered (but back then exotic materials were bamboo and heat treated rolled steel!).
If you are an engineer or have a good background in math, you will be entertained by the incredible amounts of analysis presented in the text. If you are just a techie bike geek like me you will still enjoy it without breaking out the calculator to verify the formulaes. There are lots of 'pretty pictures' and well explained concepts to inform and entertain anyone interested in the fundmental engineering priciples and concerns of bicycles.
Sharp shows how much engineering knowledge was known about bicycles at the early parts of the 20th century. No wonder bikes were the precursors to --the automobile, --the airplane, --Harleys!
Concerns about bottom-bracket flex, weight distribution, climbing efficiency, transmission systems, steering control, comfort, stability at speed, etc. are all covered. Various materials and their pros and cons are covered (but back then exotic materials were bamboo and heat treated rolled steel!).
If you are an engineer or have a good background in math, you will be entertained by the incredible amounts of analysis presented in the text. If you are just a techie bike geek like me you will still enjoy it without breaking out the calculator to verify the formulaes. There are lots of 'pretty pictures' and well explained concepts to inform and entertain anyone interested in the fundmental engineering priciples and concerns of bicycles.
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Mark
Format:Paperback
The greatest bicycle engineering book ever written, and it's from 1896. When resources and minds were focused on bicycles, Archibald Sharp was leading the pack. Soon after the focus turned to internal combustion engines and no other books like this one have ever been published. This new edition is economical and a must for any serious bike book collection.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
One of Sharp's goals was to debunk the truly awful designs of his day, and hopefully bring about their demise. When the book was written, the "ordinary" had only recently given way to the "safety," and the proliferation of designs described here is truly mind-boggling. As a historical record of early bicycle design, no other book even comes remotely close. The technical section is thorough enough to qualify as an engineering textbook, and needs no updating. The section on the design of individual components is of course limited by what was available at the time, but nevertheless is still of interest. After the numerous references to this book in Mike Burrows' "Bicycle Design," I had searched unsuccessfully for years for a used copy. The reissuance of Sharp at a reasonable price shouldn't be passed up by anyone with even a passing interest in bicycle design and history. Be forewarned: this is a faithful facsimile of the original, and as such, the typeface isn't as clear as what we're used to nowadays. We're lucky that the book is available at all, and this edition is undoubtably superior in appearance to an original (assuming you can even find one).
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gotta keep this book
Most everything you want to know about the Bicycle is in this book, first published in 1896. Those who design and admire bicycles are surprised by this book, that is, if they... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Patrick Logan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Happy Fathers Day, Dad
I gave this book to my dad for fathers day back in the 70's. He read it in an afternoon. I asked him what he thought about it and he said "Not bad if you like pluming. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Scott R Chamberlain
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sharp's the Word!
This is a remarkable book.
It was written at the height of the first great period of mechanical engineering, which had transformed productive capabilities of European... Read more
It was written at the height of the first great period of mechanical engineering, which had transformed productive capabilities of European... Read more
Published 18 months ago by ninja boy
4.0 out of 5 stars
Classic
A great source for bike history - a classic from 1862. Often quoted in other books about bicycle history and technology.
Published on October 24, 2007 by Bike Commuter
5.0 out of 5 stars
over 100 years old and still upto date
This book shows that many current 'new' ideas in cycling are not at all new ..... very useful even now.
Published on December 21, 2006 by Josh LLoyd
5.0 out of 5 stars
...like a good wine
Although 100 years old, it has great potential as a technical reference for small mechanism design as well as bicycles.
Published on March 8, 2006 by Michael Redler
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