Is there any mention in that book why the gearing appears on the right hand side of the wheel? Why was that side selected?

Herr Brandt doesn't say, maui.

Did the ladies sit side-saddle on the left at all times?

One mounts a horse from the left (usually), and women would likely do the same on their bicycles.  Put the greasy gears on the right and the pretty hoop-dresses don't get caught.

Plausible?

STF

I would say so.

Nigel Waterhouse & Associates
Aeronautical Consulting Engineers

Transport Canada and F.A.A approval & certification of fixed and rotor wing aircraft alterations: Structures, Systems, Powerplants and electrical.  FAA PMA, TC PDA.
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it's not only the gears that go on the right side of a bicycle. all logos should face the right side also ( tires, groupo, brand names, etc.) its a tradition from the old country and your a fredo if you dont, is what I was told.

I think a sprocket on the left side would require a left hand thread so that torque from the rider wouldn't constantly be unscrewing it.

anyone know ehere to find wheels and oyher bicycle components drawn in proe???

<NikolaiDK> googling "proE bicycle wheel"   gets some hits.

In traditional European bicycle racing, all the support cars and photographer motos are on the right side of the roadway, hence the drivetrain is on the right side for service, and likewise all the logos etc.

It's the other way around - support cars are on the right because the drivetrain is on the right.

The drivetrain is on the right because it would need specail, more expensive tooling to put it on the left.

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I always heard that gears are on the right so that when you get off the bike on the left side (as most do) and lay the bike down in the dirt, the gears are facing up.  Not sure if this is at all historically correct, or if it just worked out this way.

BTW: SparWeb's initial post is correct.  A wonderful book.

This site references the book, and offers some good information on truing a wheel... Anyone who has done this knows what a pain it can be, but some of the advice offered here is really practical.

http://www.merl.com/people/yerazunis/bicycle_wheels.html