There were two relevant social groups to the high wheel bicycle, each with there own interpertation of it. As outlined by Bijker:
| Properties of High Wheeler | Non-users interpretation | Users Interpretation | ||
| easily fall over, hard falls, difficult to mount, risky to ride, difficult to dismount | Unsafe Bicycle | Macho Bicycle |
Historically, the users were young and often upper-class men that had a sense of daring and athleticism who showed it off by riding the high wheel bike. The non-users were anyone who had an opinion in bicycling but was not a user. This could include old men, users of the safety bicycle, etc. This example is used by Bijker to illustrate relevant social groups and their flexible interpretations.
Extending this concept to the present topic, technology and the society in the current time, let's look at a technology of mountain bikes. I am choosing the technology of rear suspension on mountain bikes as the analog to the high wheeler. Although I could use the mountain bike or even front suspension as a comparable technology, the rear suspension is a much newer innovation and combined with my personal experience and knowledge in the area serves as a more fulfilling example. The fact that this is a technology on top of a technology, rear suspension on top of mountain bike, does not skew the comparison. After all, the technology of the safety bicycle as well as the high wheeler was built on the technology of momentum and balance, high tensile strength spokes, pneumatic tires, etc. The roles of the mountain bike and its dominant social groups have been consistent and well defined for almost a generation now.
Below is a picture of my front suspension, which means that the front fork has a spring in it that can compress about 3 to 5 inches (depending on the setting).
Here is more information on front suspension.
Rear suspension is becoming historically similar to the high wheeler. During its time, the high wheeler underwent rapid technological enhancements. Similarly, the rear suspension, which began with the welding of a front suspension (similar to the one pictured above) to the back of the frame, has evolved into a market of dozens of designs each with their own ratio of the intrinsic properties of the rear suspension. (As a technical point, all bikes with a rear suspension have a front suspension as well.)
Likewise, rear suspension technology has associated with it relevant social groups and flexible interpretations.
| Properties of Rear Suspension | Non-users interpretation | Users Interpretation | ||
| heavy, less impactful ride, less efficient pedaling | Hindering Bicycle | Downhill Bicycle |
Here I determine the relevant social group of non-users as being mountain bikers that use front suspension only bikes (hardtails) and users as those who use full suspension bikes. The hardtail riders cherish the cross-country aspect of riding and focus on the entire aspect of the ride. Therefore, light weight is an important characteristic as well as the most efficient pedal stroke. However, full-suspension riders get thrills from going as fast as possible down the steepest hills, in which case maximum shock absorbing and control is essential.
Before continuing, I must point out a bias in this comparison that exists. I belong to the relevant group of non-users; my bike in the pictures is a hardtail. That said it is the natural choice for me to parallel rear suspension with the high wheeler because it essentially represents the interpretation that I do not hold. However, there is a logical reason for choosing rear suspension as analog to the high wheeler and not a hardtail bike as the analog. The relevant social group associated with rear suspension mimics closely the social group associated with the high wheeler. The greater inherent danger associated with the thrill of going downhill fast on a rear suspension is parallel to demonstrating one's skills on such a challenging thing as the high wheeler.
The solution to this conflicting interpretation of rear suspension flows into Bijker last two requirements for sociotechnical change, closure and stabilization.