Comments on: Minimalistic City Bike Doesn’t Use A Chain

By: Robby Sams

Robby Sams — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:54:39 +0000

Looks like it needs to be a slightly bigger (taller) frame with a longer head tube and seat tube so the poor rider can stretch out there legs. The other thing that I thing would be feasible would be an internal (freewheeling) 8spd hub, that way the 1:1 ratio would be doable and it would not be a fixed gear cycle. I think a fixie in this position could be quite dangerous. I also think some Ergon grips (ergon-bikes.com) to take some of the pressure off of the riders tiresome hands would be a plus on a stock version of the bike. I think it’s doable, but I don’t know how comfortable it would be. Good luck with the marketing of this “interesting” cycle.

PS – I think the guy that said to just put in a museum might have said it best. Prove us wrong engineers!

By: Terry Jones (@terrycojones)

Terry Jones (@terrycojones) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:29:01 +0000

If you’ve ever (seiously) ridden a unicycle you’ll know that the bike above is feasible. You’d want something like a 26″ wheel to be able to achieve decent speed, and of course anyone can see that the seat would need to be higher to be comfortable. The above looks to be about a 21″ and the cranks are extremely short.

Scott, the next logical step to me is to remove the front wheel :-)

By: George Myers

George Myers — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:58:52 +0000

If the pedal was a pump, i.e., added to momentum with a short stroke, circular the rest of the time (could be geared by a back pedal click?) it might work around town. “Bare bones” it would have to have splash guards before I got on it and the other stuff required by law in NYC, a bell.

Messengers drive notorious bikes, no brakes, not much for gears around people and traffic. UPS started as 2 motorbikes in Seattle, WA. More and more bike lanes today in NYC to be grateful for.

By: harry krishna

harry krishna — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:54:07 +0000

all the bases seemed to be covered so i’ll just say “whut he say”

By: harry krishna

harry krishna — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:51:44 +0000

score

By: Fixies suck

Fixies suck — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 06:12:49 +0000

no gears = useless.

By: Carl Crawl

Carl Crawl — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:24:36 +0000

Put it on a pedestal and keep it in a gallery. That thing would hurt someone on the streets!

By: Jason

Jason — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 03:35:49 +0000

wasn’t this tried 100 years ago as the penny farthing? http://bit.ly/1qGJrh

By: Bob

Bob — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:58:44 +0000

People want more that a bike which “can at least roll”. And it’s not clear that this one can do even that. The position of the rider, the fixed gear, the 1:1 ratio between pedaling and rear wheel turning, the apparent difficulties with just getting the thing started, etc., all combine to make this a pretty solid “I’ll believe it when I see it” phenomenon.

Nothing wrong with “thinking out side the box” or whatever. And wacky bikes are great fun to design and build (I’ve done a few). But from the photo and description, I’m not laying money on this particular one’s success.

By: alex bronca

alex bronca — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:25:13 +0000

I don’t understand why this is “non functional crap”. Isn’t it essentially a unicycle with an extra wheel and handlebars? I mean I don’t know much about bike design, but it seems like a good option for someone just wants a simple bike that can at least roll, right?

By: Jeff

Jeff — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:20:48 +0000

In addition to the impossibility of pedaling, the distance from the rear hub to the seat is WAY too short and not adjustable. Hey I’ve got an idea– how about a drinking mug with a big hole in the bottom? Would be totally tubular and radical…

By: Dolphin42

Dolphin42 — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:59:47 +0000

you are making an “obvious” remark, and so I have to assume they have dealt with the problem? they are bicycle engineers after all. the short stroke may have been what they did – or yeah, planetary gears… *shrug* havta try one :)

By: courtney

courtney — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:52:02 +0000

I wish I could get paid to build totally non functional crap like this.
It would be so much fun.

By: Teko

Teko — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:33:50 +0000

A bike that you can’t ride: Stupid, stupid, stupid.
Hummer a car that you can barely park, drive, and afford: Stupid, stupid, stupid.
Bush, a President that can barely make sense: ……..

Can we please, have smart designs?

By: Walter Hawn

Walter Hawn — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:12:12 +0000

Umm. There is a reason for the big-gear/little-gear combo w/chains. I doubt this would be ridable for any distance, and esp. downhill, unless there is a planetary gear in the rear hub, but the copy says pedals ‘directly drive’ the rear wheel.