February 1896 The gun bike

It's not as good as it sounds. It's hard to aim and ride straight, and the kickback dang near throws me off the bike.

Besides, I generally need to shoot at those who're chasing me, and you wouldn't believe the problems that arise with a big-caliber gun mounted to your seat. Dang it's uncomfortable.

I guess you've got the wrong bike!

Works fine on my Harley.

Just mount the gun backwards, you'd then have "jet" propulsion, as long as you can feed the ammo.

Reminded me of this story.

In 1853 an unknown inventor appeared at Fort Leavenworth with a muzzle-loading cannon which, according to his instructions, could be fired from the back of a pack mule. To fire this "self-propelled" artillery piece, the gunner had merely to point the posterior of the mule in the direction of the enemy and light the fuse. Of course, the most astute military mind could readily discern the implications of this new device as a "quantum jump" in mobile artillery.

Amidst considerable skepticism on the post commander's part, an agreement was struck to allow the "ordnance expert" to demonstrate his weapon on the bluff overlooking the Missouri River. An army mule served as the firing platform. The contractor attached the gun to the poor creature's back, postioned his tail toward the Big Muddy, and loaded the cannon. The post commander and his officer watched apprehensively as the fuse was lighted. The mule, aggravated by the sputtering noise emitted by the burning fuse at his rump, spun around for a better look. In so doing, he pointed the muzzle of the cannon in the direction of the spectators. They immediately took a reactive posture of self-defense. When the gun fired, the mule and cannon crashed down the bluff and into the river.