Neill points out, quite correctly:
> Well, if you Google using this pertinent set of search words:
> "fork drive side bicycle obscure".............
> the very first hit, is a reference to the great Sheldon
> Brown: "For some obscure reason, some writers on bicycle
> matters seem to have a problem ... (This relates to the fact
> that the chain drive is on the right
> side.) ..."
>
> Now, we all know that nobody argues with Sheldon, so I think
> you had better stop now ;-) Whatsupwidat?
Just in case anyone hasn't memorized the sheldonbown.com website yet, I quote the referenced section further:
+---------------------------------------------------------------+ | For some obscure reason, some writers on bicycle matters | | seem to have a problem with the terms "right" and "left." | | | | Instead of using these easily understood common English words,| | they have invented the terms "drive-side" for "right" and | | "non-drive-side" for left. (This relates to the fact that the | | chain drive is on the right side.) | +---------------------------------------------------------------+
In this I totally disagree with "Mr. Carapace Completed Umber", because "left and "right" are so often confused, while "drive-side" and "non-driveside" are very evocative, poetic even, and clearly superior. And, I might add, "Sheldon dude yer totally harshing my mellow"
I still think forks don't have a drive side though, unless you have one o' them "2x2" front-and-rear-wheel-drive bikes (sorry, OT!) Didn't they drive on the left though?
And don't forget, in England where they also drive on the left, "non-driveside" means right!
Peace,
Mark Bulgier
Seattle WA USA