From the Archives: Bicycle Back

In addition to "bicycle face" another hidden danger of bicycling identified in the 19th century appears to be "bicycle back" as noted in this June 30, 1880 blurb in the Evening Star

Bicyclists will do well to meditate on the following ominous paragraph in the last London Truth: "it may be noticed that many young men you meet nowadays are prematurely round-shouldered and walk with bent knees and a sort of crab-like movement. This is not the result of over-study or weakness, but the consequence of perpetual wobbling on what is called the 'steel horse.' This peculiar and ungraceful appearance, which is becoming indelibly stamped on many youths, is known as the 'bicycle back.'"

Alas, bicycle back is not covered by Obamacare. 

A pro-cycling magazine "The Wheel World" took a different bent to the issue

The wretched habit of riding with the body inclined forward has 
produced an habitual bent attitude with several riders, and given 
rise to a prejudice against the sport itself, as producing a " bicycle 
back." Nearly all oarsmen have this form of back, and it has not 
proved detrimental ; but it is ungainly, and the methods by which 
it is acquired on a bicycle are entirely unnecessary. Erect riding is 
more graceful, develops the chest, and add ; an exercise to the 
muscles of the throat and chest that rowing d )es not. 

The exposure to out-of-door air, the constant employment of the 
mind by the delight of changing scenery or agreeable companion- 
ship, add their contribution, and make bicycling, to those who have 
tried practically every other sport, the most enjoyable, healthful, 
useful exercise ever known. 

 There was also, it seems, something called "bicycle tongue" but I have no idea what that was. 

Comments

[Smedley Burkhart]

I suffer in some degree from all of those conditions. Bicycle tongue is the crescent of puncture wounds the tongue receives when the victim is too busy lashing a motorist with it to notice a pothole.

[Crickey]

Well, I did almost get whiplash one time I forgot to remove the GoPro before entering a Porta Potty.