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Bicycle suspension projects from the end of the XIX century
August 20,2007
Suspension systems used in bikes seem to be modern ideas. We found out that over 100 years ago there were many patented suspension systems for both the front and rear wheel. Looking at all these projects we ask ourselves when did people really start thinking about mountain biking.
The first supension patents were submited in the last decade of the XIX century. One of them was a front wheel suspension designed by W Scantlebury in 1891. The seat and cranks were mounted with the rear wheel. When hitting an obstacle the front wheel jumped up and down thanks to a spring attached above the cranks. This bike also had a version which front wheel steering system mounted under the seat which is a popular design used in todays recumbents.
A year after another designer named McGlinchey built a prototype which was very modern. The bike had a rear swing arm mounted on a single pivot and an unusual front suspension fork which used a coil spring as the suspension medium. McGlinchey’s design wasn’t built for mountain biking. Back in those days most of the roads really looked like today’s off road trails and any kind of suspension besides rubber tires was very innovative.
The first front suspension fork designs showed up around 1890 but the first telescopic fork designs were made in 1922 by George W. Sage Jr. His project shows a construction of a fork with an upper crown connected with upper stanchions which works similar to all modern upside down suspension forks. The lower stanchions were attached to the mudguard with a special link.
H. A. Becker In 1890 designed a very innovative full suspension bike which was way ahead of ones time. The suspension moved using a multi pivot system.
Other patented designs used all sort of bent metal elements which worked as suspension mediums similar to leaf springs.
Back in the days enthusiasts and constructors cleared the path of today’s bike industry. Although most of the projects never became popular, all of the inventors found there important place in the history of mountain biking.
source: http://patentpending.blogs.com
W.Scantlebury – 10 January 1891r 
C.E. McGlinchey – 22 December 1891r 
G.W. Sage – 12 September 1922r 
H.A. Beckler – 28 October 1890r 
Front shocks projects 
J.H.Mathews - rear shock project, 24 November 1891r 
Other - canti brakes and wheels 
Oldschool guys :)
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