The Urban Bike is the One

http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/20080804/the-urban-bike-is-the-one/

by pbnaidu • 18 years ago

8 3 18 years ago

ajross• 18 years ago

This is artwork, not engineering.

All of the weight of the rider is being borne on the tiny pivot joints between the circular bits and the "boxes". The rear circular bit would have to be hollow to contain some kind of drive chain, and I I can't imagine how you would get any kind of gearing to fit in there. There are no handbrakes.

And it doesn't steer! I guess you're suppose to lean left or right? But even then, the forward wheel will be reverse-castering, making that an unstable process (the bike will try to steer harder the more it tilts).

Definitely cute though.

jodrellblank• 18 years ago

This is engineering, not artwork.

All of the weight of the rider is being borne on the tiny pivot joints between the circular bits and the "boxes". The rear circular bit would have to be hollow to contain some kind of drive chain, and the rear wheel would need hub gears. Internal break cables, or breaking by pedaling backwards.

Steering pivots on the middle joint, so the front circular bit turns too.

Definitely ugly though.

;)

rtf• 18 years ago

I already have a working urban transport. I regularly ride a Xootr scooter (http://www.xootr.com/) for a working commute of about 2.5 miles, mostly on flat terrain. It takes 20-30 minutes. I can take it into the gym and fit it in a half-height locker.

Caveat: It reacts poorly against upward elevation - parallel cracks like those between the gutter and the bike lane are likely to throw you. I got a stitch in my knee from exactly that situation. I stay on the sidewalk now.

The Urban Bike is the One

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