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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle

Could the bicycle have been invented earlier than it actually was?

A long time coming? Bicycles. Photograph: Rob Whitworth/Corbis
A long time coming? Bicycles. Photograph: Rob Whitworth/Corbis

I have heard it said that it took a surprisingly long time for the first recognisably modern bike to be invented and produced, given that the technology was already available. Is this true? Are there any other inventions that could, technically speaking, have been invented before they actually were?

Josh Glendinning, Manchester

• Post your answers – and new questions – below or email them to nq@theguardian.com. Please include name, address and phone number

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