Comments on: Missing the point: “City Bikes”

By: henry

henry — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 07:16:12 +0000

Steve,
That bike you found is way cooler than the designer masturbation special above. Most importantly it can be steered both at the head tube and seat tube so you can do cool stuff such as riding sideways or turning around in tiny circles. It takes “short wheelbase” to new levels.

Back in the 70’s there was a bike called the “Swing Bike”. It looked like a typical banana seat bike of the period but it also had double axis steering. I remember orange ones and green ones. Not really useful but really fun for a few minutes. We sold them (or at least tried to) at the first shop I ever worked at. I was 12 then.

Here’s a great video of a couple guys on self-made swing bikes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5P70XtI4zQ

By: Steven Vance

Steven Vance — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 05:02:25 +0000

Apparently this bike has already been designed:
http://westtownbikes.org/files/westtownbikes/images/STC.preview.JPG

By: henry

henry — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 05:03:34 +0000

Mark, wouldn’t an old-fashioned “penny farthing” be cooler as a unicycle for people who can’t ride unicycles? I actually don’t understand any of it except for the nice color scheme.

But maybe I can explain the disk brakes: Despite the fact that this “bike” would probably never be ridden at more than a jogging pace it has been long since been demonstrated that “cool” bikes must be EXTREME. Thus when it comes to brakes there are really only two “cool” choices:

A. No brakes, as in an urban hipster fixie
B. Disk brakes for the ultimate in pavement rippling stopping power.

Anything else is just for the sheep of the mainstream.

By: Mark

Mark — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:58:32 +0000

It looks like a unicycle for people who can’t ride unicycles. I don’t understand why they put a disc brake and a suspension fork on it. Those items make it more of a target for theives.

The short cranks would make most adult riders look like a circus clown on a tiny bike.

By: henry

henry — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:52:50 +0000

Nels,
What specifically do you see as “pure gold” about this concept? How can you envision making this concept into a workable city bike?

By: Nels Nelson

Nels Nelson — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:44:18 +0000

i LOVE it. I admit that it needs some adjustments, but the concept is pure gold. A lot of bike riders agree that tight frame geometry is good for riding in the city, well, this bike has really tight geometry.

By: henry

henry — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:01:16 +0000

Instead of such a pathetic bike, or even a bad folding bike a decent kick scooter is simpler, cheaper, lighter, folds better and nicer to ride.

By: henry

henry — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:59:10 +0000

Frits, Even though almost everybody rides a bike here the Dutch are still not immune to designing stupid bikes and other stuff… maybe just a little less of it.

By: Frits

Frits — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:39:30 +0000

Devised by a Dutchman, no less (name is J. Ruiter). This same design was featured on dvice.com around November 5 and it had some nice comments there:
“This is nothing new. I once saw one on display in Madrid at a museum of the Spanish Inquisition. The only difference was the seat– it was spiked– and the “bike” was locked down.”
“Not just the Spanish inquisition, there was a military disciplinary instrument called the horse until well into the 19th century. Same idea as this “bike” but no wheels and the saddle was a triangular bar with the sharp side up.”

By: John . Dublin Ireland

John . Dublin Ireland — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:59:26 +0000

Just looking at it now you would have to sit like a Praying Mantis Insect as you try to Cycle on this thing. The Pedals are set to the Rear end of the Bike,you would probably have to constantly stand on the Pedals as you Cycle in Order not to Strain yourself. Then again constantly standing on the Pedals as you Cycle is very Tiring anyway.

It might work for Trick Cycling when you have the front Wheel in the Air but certainly not for normal Cycling where it means you need to be comfortable on Long Distances without tiring yourself out and getting to your destination with Speed and Efficiency.

This Bike thing is a waste of space