Dinos
You've heard about Dino Riders? Yep, those guys and gals whom talk in terms
of years ago, sometimes wear wool, ride steel, post ancient race photos, ride
epically but finish up in time to eat, drink, and tell war stories epically too.
You think you're a Dino or maybe you just wanna be a Dino? Well, there's nothing to stop you cause it's just
a matter of attitude. Yes, if you got
attitude, you're a Dino.
So just how Dino are you?
Well, we all know, reptilian Dinosaurs lived during the Triassic,
Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods. Over
time, early Dinosaur species evolved from primitive (Triassic) forms to advanced
forms (Cretaceous) until that pesky asteroid changed the game at the end of the
Cretaceous. Homo Sapien Dino riders also
follow that reptilian progression, we were primitive at the outset but advanced
systematically so we can assign relative ages to ourselves. Since everyone understands the reptilian Dino
timescale, we'll just lift if for our own purposes. So if you've bought into Dino and are
interested in finding out just how primitive you are, read on:
Triassic Dinos
(early, late)
Early Triassic epoch Dinos built machines that allowed them
to power them while riding. Up to this
time, wheels were used in machines that were either pulled or pushed by men or
beasts (Permian power). These wooden machines,
referred to now as bicycles, used iron tires and Rube Goldberg drivetrains. Comfortable saddles were well a few million
years off. Dinos who grew up riding these bikes are
extinct unless they're frozen in Siberia.
But fossil bikes from this epoch are on display at the Davis bike
museum.
Iron replaced wood during the Late-Triassic. Late Triassic Dinos rode metal bikes with one
really large, direct drive front wheel, one small rear wheel, and solid rubber tires. Comfortable saddles were still a few million
years off. These bikes were tall
(affording greater views) and fast so mid-Triassic Dinos took up racing for fun
instead of survival. Late Early
Triassic Dinos are extinct too unless they're frozen in Siberia. However, living Dinos use bikes from this
epoch during special events like Tweed Rides.
Watch a Tweed Rider fall from one of these bikes and you'll understand
why Late Triassic Dino's are extinct.
Jurassic Dinos
(early, middle, Late)
Early Jurassic Dinos rode metal bikes with equal sized
wheels, chain or direct drive, single fixed gear, and solid rubber tires. Bikes now look like today's bikes. Early Jurassic Dinos road for transportation,
sport, and fun. Early Jurassic Dinos are extinct unless frozen
in Siberia
Middle Jurassic Dinos rode all steel bikes that used
air-filled tires and chain drivetrains (elliptical chainrings debut too). Gearing systems incorporated freewheels,
internal and external shifting systems, as well as traditional fixed
gearing. Frame shifters dominated
although some handlebar shifter systems were available. Toe straps and clips, nail on cleats, narrow
saddles and crude helmets also define the Middle Jurassic epoch and are common
in the fossil record. Good bikes and
accessories were European (Campagnolo, Stronglight, Zeus, TA, Nervar), and Dino
legends sprang up about which frame builder shaman had the most mojo. Dinos clothed themselves in wool and were weight
obsessed (some drilled holes in their bike parts and frames). Many older living Dinos are from this period.
Invasive Japanese component companies (Japanolo) ushered in
the Late Jurassic. These companies tried
to compete with European component manufactures by copying their parts. Also, hard shell helmets, high-performance
clincher tires, elliptical chainrings (again), and crude index shifting systems
also define the Late Jurassic. Late
Jurassic bikes were made of aluminum, titanium, plastic, and carbon too. Late Jurassic Dinos are relatively common and
some are still pretty fast.
Cretaceous Dinos
Early Cretaceous
Clipless pedals, index shifting (an early electric form too),
cassette gears and widespread hardshell helmet use ushered in the early Cretaceous. Steel as a framebuilding material devolved
into a cottage industry. The late
Cretaceous saw two copy cat Japanese component companies become extinct while
the Japanese company that did things its own way thrived (if you're thinking Shimano,
you get a gold star). As an invasive,
Shimano even displaced the premiere Euro company (two stars for guessing
Campagnolo) on the European pro circuit.
Many Early Cretaceous Dinos don't know what toe straps, nail on cleats, wool shorts, or frame
friction shifters are. But elliptical chainrings reappeared again. Carbon as
framebuilding material makes inroads.
Hiring a coach, especially by riders who started riding late in life becomes
popular. Hopefully, many new Dinos will
be recruited from this period.
Mid-Cretaceous (We're more or less in this period now)
Carbon dominates as a frame, component, and wheel building
material; frames, wheels, and accessories incorporate aerodynamic designs. Cassettes are often confuse older Dinos
because they have twice the gears that were available during their heyday. Bikes do not need addition lightening but
elliptical chainrings reappear again.
Reliable electric-powered shifting systems are introduced and priced for
the masses. Pro-bikes cost as much as a
good used car (gee that's like it was in the mid Triassic). But "Old school" bikes, clothes
and components are available as part of a boutique industry (they cost as much
as a used car too). Hiring a Coach is a must do. Hopefully, many Dinos will be recruited from
this period.
Late Cretaceous
Well this epoch is reserved for riders who will start riding
in the future using bikes and equipment that us existing Dinos can hardly
imagine. Future Dinos will have to be from this period because
the only way to move into the Tertiary is to have another pesky asteroid hit. If that happens, there won't be any more Dinos,
just birds.
Well, hopefully you've been able to find yourself a spot in
the Dino timeline as described above. If
you need further information, visit the bicycle historical center in Davis, CA,
and visit the Dino Website (a wealth of Dino history, photos, sea stories, and
it has an event calendar).
