Not Just Spinning Wheels

Press, 16 June 1978, Page 13

Not Just Spinning Wheels

The bicycle is the most efficient known means, animal or mechanical, of converting energy into transportation—four times as efficient as a jet transport, five times as efficient as a man walking, 10 times as efficient as a gull flying. And the bike has not basically changed since the invention of the derailleur gearchanger in 1899. Is the bike perfect? Not quite, according to Lawrence G. Brown, an engineer who has developed a bike drive based not on the chainwheel but on the rotating cam. Late last year, men on Mr Brown's cycles broke a number of American time-trial records, from 10 to 150 miles. That is not as impressive as it sounds, since many of the records were very old. But it does prove the bike works.

Next month, members of the American team for next summer's world championships in Germany will work out on the cycles to see if they like them, and the international governing federation will be asked if the bikes are legal. Mr Brown claims his tests show his bike yields substantially more push on the pavement for the same poke on the pedal. If that is so. maiiv revolutions are in the making.— ‘New York Times.”