Draft:Richard Allen (inventor)
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Richard Aubrey Allen | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 23, 1934 Southborough, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | March 15, 2024 (aged 89) Fort Myers, Florida, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Harvard University |
| Occupation(s) | Physicist, inventor, entrepreneur |
| Known for | Inventing the strap-mounted bicycle carrier; founder of Allen Sports |
| Spouse | Petronella "Nelleke" Allen (m. 1965) |
| Children | 3 |
Richard Aubrey Allen (March 23, 1934 – March 15, 2024) was an American physicist and inventor who created the modern strap-mounted bicycle carrier for automobiles. He founded Allen Sports in 1967 to manufacture and sell the carriers.[1]
Early life and education
[edit]Allen was born in Southborough, Massachusetts, in 1934.[2] He attended St. Mark's School (Massachusetts) and later Harvard University, graduating in 1956 with a degree in physics.[3] After college he served in the United States Navy, where he was navigator of the USS Severn (AO-61) under Captain David McCampbell.[3]
Career
[edit]After his naval service, Allen worked as a physicist at Avco Corporation on aerospace projects.[1] In 1967 he was laid off from Avco, and he began experimenting with ways to carry bicycles on cars.
He filed his first bicycle rack patent in 1967, describing a rack designed for the Volkswagen Beetle.[4] His first commercial product was marketed as the “VolksRack,” a strap-mounted carrier for the Beetle.[5]
Allen founded Allen Bike Racks, later Allen Sports, to produce and market his invention.[1] In 1972, the Boston Herald reported that his “bicycle carriers, once built at home, are now being sold through shops across the region.”[6]
Expansion
[edit]In 1976, the Dutch newspaper Nieuwsblad van het Noorden profiled Allen and his company, describing the spread of his bicycle racks outside the United States.[7] In 1985, the trade magazine BWDA covered Allen introducing new product designs, showing that the company continued to innovate into the mid-1980s.[8]
Later recognition
[edit]Allen’s company continued to produce bicycle carriers and expand internationally. Independent product reviews have described Allen racks as affordable and practical. TwoWheelingTots noted in 2021 that Allen racks were consistent best-sellers on Amazon.[9] In 2025, Cyclingnews listed an Allen trunk rack as the “best ultra-light emergency option.”[10] The Spanish magazine RoadBIKER reviewed an Allen Sports rack using suction mounts and smartphone monitoring, describing it as a practical alternative to traditional racks.[11] OutdoorGearLab has also published reviews of Allen racks, emphasizing their economical value.[12]
Personal life
[edit]Allen married Petronella “Nelleke” Allen in 1965. They had three children. He died in Fort Myers, Florida, in 2024 at age 89.[2]
See also
[edit]- Bicycle carrier
- Avco Corporation
- Volkswagen Beetle
- David McCampbell
- United States Navy
- Harvard University
- St. Mark's School (Massachusetts)
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Physicist finds new career with bike rack invention". Enterprise Sun. June 16, 1971.
A physicist laid off from Avco began experimenting in his garage with a way to carry bicycles on cars. His design is now attracting attention among local cyclists.
- ^ a b "Richard Aubrey Allen Obituary". Harvey-Engelhardt Funeral Home. March 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
- ^ a b "Cycling grows in Boston suburbs". The Boston Globe. April 19, 1971.
- ^ US 3437248A, "Multipurpose bicycle carrier", published 1967-09-05
- ^ VolksRack Flyer (Report). Allen Bike Racks. 1968.
- ^ "Homemade bike racks now on sale in stores". Boston Herald. September 24, 1972.
His bicycle carriers, once built at home, are now being sold through shops across the region.
- ^ "Amerikaanse fietsenrekken vinden weg naar Europa". Nieuwsblad van het Noorden (in Dutch). April 8, 1976.
- ^ "New Allen bike rack design introduced". BWDA. January 1985.
- ^ "Allen Trunk Bike Rack Comparison Review". TwoWheelingTots. October 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
- ^ "Best trunk bike racks 2025". Cyclingnews. September 2025. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
- ^ Ripoll Allué, Esteve (September 2025). "Allen Smart Suction Bike Rack". RoadBIKER. pp. 28–31.
- ^ "Allen Deluxe 2-Bike Trunk Carrier Review". OutdoorGearLab. Retrieved 26 September 2025.