Steve Smilanick, inventor of S&S Coupler

[weisan]

Nice article about the inventor of the S&S coupler. I love my coupled bikes, thank you Steve pal.

https://www.adventurecycling.org/blo...s-will-travel/

[Peter P.]

That WAS a good article. Thanks for sharing!

[AngryScientist]

Also love my S&S couplers, and you can tell that the inventor and machinist had an eye for detail and purpose putting them together.

I think someone should introduce Steve to some safe dirt roads around his place to get him back on the bike!

A lifelong cyclist, Smilanick, 71, said he was one of the few kids in his neighborhood who wanted to ride his bike to kindergarten. He took a break from cycling in his 20s and early 30s, but then returned to it and has ridden ever since — until recently.

“I rode up until about five years ago,” Smilanick said. “I only quit because I had a cousin who, while on a motorcycle on the Santa Monica freeway, was killed by a road rage–type driver. I began to feel it’s not a matter of if, but when.”

[Veloo]

Nice article.
Sad to hear when people step away from riding out of safety concerns.

One day I'll have one...

[fijichf]

Nice story…thanks for sharing.

[m_sasso]

I ride small bikes that will fit in a wheel box so never had a need for couplers however for you big guys these have proven to be a near perfect solution. Thanks for posting the story behind them Weisan Pal.

[FriarQuade]

As someone that also machines nice widgets, I'll say they are damn nice parts. And I'll second that someone needs to get that guy on a mountain bike. I struggle to understand why anyone rides on a road recreationaly at this point but that doesn't mean I or anyone else needs to give up bikes. But each to their own.

[makoti]

Originally Posted by FriarQuade

As someone that also machines nice widgets, I'll say they are damn nice parts. And I'll second that someone needs to get that guy on a mountain bike. I struggle to understand why anyone rides on a road recreationaly at this point but that doesn't mean I or anyone else needs to give up bikes. But each to their own.

No local options.
My choices are road (where generally everyone follows the same rules), a small group of trails (where there are no rules, apparently), drive 45min to gravel (which is still on roads), or buy a Mtn bike and ride the one local park, which I would still have to load the bike in the car to get to.
You think I should stop riding, then?