BIKE DESIGNS THAT NEVER CAUGHT ON

A selection of steeds that somehow, albeit very briefly, made it on to the production line

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The path of bike design innovation is neither linear nor smooth. Most standout innovations of their time seem laughable 20 years later as technology, materials and understanding moves on.

Here we look at some of the bikes that may be considered the worst of the 80s and 90s, but without the pioneering spirit of the people behind them it’s likely the market wouldn’t be where it is now.

Put any of the following machines up against a current £2,000 bike from any of the big manufacturers and it would be out-performed on every level, but without them the market wouldn’t move on and our bikes wouldn’t be the things of beauty they are now.

So laugh all you want, but remember we​ owe a debt of gratitude to the trailblazers who dared to dream.

Material fail

Developed by engineer Frank Kirk and unveiled at the 1986 New York Cycle Show to gasps of amazement, this revolutionary frame was a single component, cast from molten magnesium. Kirk came from the automotive industry and set out to create a cheap, durable and lightweight frame, using magnesium – which happens to be one of the world’s most abundant materials.

Its girder like appearance turned heads but there were benefits. Lighter than aluminum and 1.5 times as strong as steel, magnesium seemed like a wonder material. It’s also 100 per cent recyclable.