I'm just posting the wikipedia link here on account of I think it's a topic that people from both the feminism or the bicycle crank spheres don't seem to adress much despite there being quite a bit of both history and current day presence about it.
Hell I first learned about this via a trip to the "Einbeck City History Museum" which has about 3 rooms of city history, 10 on beer and then about 30 of bicycle history which is a stellar bit to pull as a museum
now given the circumstances that cycling was first mostly liberating to affluent women I feel like we have to issue critical support here because that might as well be about chopping lower classes heads, but other than that, RETVRN
Technology in almost every case goes to the affluent first then becomes more available to the masses. The proletarian nature of bikes is evident today, notably in the west where it's possible to navigate the car designed hellscape with a much cheaper option.
Elbow behind the hand? I admit I'm not a professional swordsman, but I feel like you couldn't put much force into your swing if your hand is ahead of your elbow; is it that you don't need as much force with a slashing weapon?