"USS" Recumbent History
- from Linear Recumbents
Linear wasn’t the first recumbent
bicycle with Under Seat Steering (USS.) That
distinction goes to this 1905 English bike. You can see form this 1905
review, it was comfortable and easy to control.
"THE LATEST IN CYCLES" (1905) "
A novel bicycle has been built in London
which has been pronounced "as comfortable as a rocking chair" and which
shows remarkable mechanical ingenuity.
This new machine is fitted with an
anti-vibrating easy chair-like saddle which affords wonderful relief to a
tired back and which proves a luxury when coasting down long hills. The
ladies' machines are meeting with particular favor. They are of exactly the
same construction as are the machines built for the men. The illustration
gives some idea of the comfort found in these new bicycles. Besides the
chair like saddle, the machine has another improvement. Note the position of
the handlebars. They are almost directly under the saddle. It is this
arrangement that enables the woman to ride the diamond frame with ease. The
steering gear is under perfect control and it will be seen that a smaller
circle can be described on this machine than on any other.
The first machine
of this make was built by P.W. Bartlett, of Richmond, England, for a Java
resident. He was so pleased that he has now placed an order for twelve more
of the same construction. The weight is somewhat greater than that of the
light-weight racing machines, but as these bicycles are built for comfort
and not alone for speed this is no detriment. The cost is the same as of any
other high grade bicycle."
Click Image for Enlarged View
This bike, from 1905, is one of the first USS (Under Seat
Steering) recumbents I know of. It may also be the first "production"
recumbent bike in history. Notice the rod steering linkage, still popular on USS recumbents.
You can see that using a 26" rear wheel on a CLWB (Compact Long Wheel-Base)
bike raises the seat considerably. I wonder why the woman's model was more
popular. How did they get on and off with the long skirt of the day?
The Bicycle Man also maintains a
selection of parts and accessories for Linear recumbent bicycles.
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