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Maybe this isn't a tech problem and it is just that the need for such a transportation mode didn't develop until the early 19th century? Bicycles are most usef

Maybe this isn't a tech problem and it is just that the need for such a transportation mode didn't develop until the early 19th century? Bicycles are most useful for mid-range (mostly) solo traveling with little or no luggage. And maybe that wasn't in high demand back then.

Ekaros 6y ago
Also I would venture to guess that horses were tad more practical and if you needed that mid-range solo travel. And if you were doing it for reason you either had money or someone supporting you. It's very often forgotten just how little average people in agrarian societies tended to move. And on other hand the "downtown" of even Athens seems to have been quite small that is 1,5km in diameter...
- ahmedfromtunis 6y ago
  Yes. And horses are much easier to come by, need much less maintenance and were much more useful in off-road settings which were probably the norm back then. So even the tech of the era allowed for the development of the bicycle, the urgent need that would make it worthwhile for someone to put the effort to come up with one wasn't just there.
  - Someone 6y ago
    Horses need less maintenance? Certainly not once bicycles were made at industrial scale. A horse needs to be fed every day, and its shoes need looking at every 4 to 6 weeks (hooves grow; nails do get loose) A bicycle on the other hand, you can keep unattended for a month and still use afterwards.
    - marcosdumay 6y ago
      On an agrarian society, yes, horses need much less maintenance. > A horse needs to be fed every day And it can take care of that need all by itself. > and its shoes need looking at every 4 to 6 weeks Horseshoes are only necessary for horses that run on hard terrains. And caring for their hooves is only necessary if they will run (not walk) a lot.
      - Someone 6y ago
        > And it can take care of that need all by itself. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horseshoe#Environmental_changes_linked_to_domestication https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horseshoe#Environmental_change...: “In the wild, a horse may travel up to 50 miles (80 km) per day to obtain adequate forage.” ⇒ If you want your horse to be available when you need it, I think you would need to build a relatively small enclosure, and bring food there. > Horseshoes are only necessary for horses that run on hard terrains https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horseshoe#Physical_stresses_requiring_horseshoes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horseshoe#Physical_stresses_re... disagrees with that (“Horses' hooves can become quite worn out when subjected to the added weight and stress of a rider, pack load, cart, or wagon.”)

Ekaros 6y ago

Also I would venture to guess that horses were tad more practical and if you needed that mid-range solo travel. And if you were doing it for reason you either had money or someone supporting you. It's very often forgotten just how little average people in agrarian societies tended to move. And on other hand the "downtown" of even Athens seems to have been quite small that is 1,5km in diameter...

ahmedfromtunis 6y ago
Yes. And horses are much easier to come by, need much less maintenance and were much more useful in off-road settings which were probably the norm back then. So even the tech of the era allowed for the development of the bicycle, the urgent need that would make it worthwhile for someone to put the effort to come up with one wasn't just there.
- Someone 6y ago
  Horses need less maintenance? Certainly not once bicycles were made at industrial scale. A horse needs to be fed every day, and its shoes need looking at every 4 to 6 weeks (hooves grow; nails do get loose) A bicycle on the other hand, you can keep unattended for a month and still use afterwards.
  - marcosdumay 6y ago
    On an agrarian society, yes, horses need much less maintenance. > A horse needs to be fed every day And it can take care of that need all by itself. > and its shoes need looking at every 4 to 6 weeks Horseshoes are only necessary for horses that run on hard terrains. And caring for their hooves is only necessary if they will run (not walk) a lot.
    - Someone 6y ago
      > And it can take care of that need all by itself. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horseshoe#Environmental_changes_linked_to_domestication https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horseshoe#Environmental_change...: “In the wild, a horse may travel up to 50 miles (80 km) per day to obtain adequate forage.” ⇒ If you want your horse to be available when you need it, I think you would need to build a relatively small enclosure, and bring food there. > Horseshoes are only necessary for horses that run on hard terrains https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horseshoe#Physical_stresses_requiring_horseshoes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horseshoe#Physical_stresses_re... disagrees with that (“Horses' hooves can become quite worn out when subjected to the added weight and stress of a rider, pack load, cart, or wagon.”)