Kickstarter-- saddle-less folding bicycle

[Black]

I want one of these NOW.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/123...r-everyday

I have searched a bit and have not found a similar product currently being offered.

[space-time]

I want the girl too.

[davester]

Looks pretty cool, though I don't think it'd be useful around here where we have HILLS!! I think it desperately needs a chain/sprocket guard (which shouldn't be too difficult or detract too much from the compactness) otherwise you're going to be getting pretty greasy folding and carrying it.

[sekker]

Interesting. I have no need, but I could see where it'd be great.

[blooz]

When I saw "saddle-less" I wondered what one would be sitting on…

[Filliam H. Muffman]

I would have to try a model before I give them money. It looks too easy to go over the handlebars. Or is that why it is geared so low and has no leverage, you can't go fast enough to hurt yourself.... Light weight is the main attraction but wet weather would cut use a huge amount. DIY 3D printing of fiber composites could make it a success. I wonder if inductive charging of super capacitors to supply energy for climbing hills would fix the gears/leverage problem.

[cbelt3]

So basically it's a scooter / stepper ? Yeah.... no thanks.

[LyleH]

But at the 2:40 mark she blows through a stop sign .... :-) LyleH

[RAMd®d]

When I saw "saddle-less" I wondered what one would be sitting on…

When I saw "saddle-less" I wondered what it would be like to be constantly standing on the pedals.


I would have to try a model before I give them money.

That would be a given, for me.

The weight seems biased to the rear. It's possible some people might be more prone to be launched on hard braking, if they were careless, of if they hit some object that stopped them hard. The handlebars are adjustable so unless one is also very tall as well as uncoordinated or unlucky, I don't think the Flying W is a big risk.


Or is that why it is geared so low and has no leverage, you can't go fast enough to hurt yourself....

That's a leap. The overall gearing is a result of the small rear tire and not the sprockets' ratio. I'm guessing that the idea was to keep the bike compact, not to limit it's speed. Same with the short crankset; it's a most likely a compromise for portability, not safety. As for no leverage, a bit of an exaggeration. It's designed for urban use so I'm guessing (again, yeah, I know) that a large percentage of the target market could find it an acceptable compromise. It's not a mountain bike.


but wet weather would cut use a huge amount.

I'm not the bicyclist I once was, not that I was a big-time cyclist, but it seems to me that's a problem with most all bikes that don't have some kind of shroud or canopy. Fenders are available though tire selection may be nil. Even with wearing rain gear I got soaked and gave that up in a hurry.


I wonder if inductive charging of super capacitors to supply energy for climbing hills would fix the gears/leverage problem.

That probably wouldn't be much help until you add a motor. Now you're talking more weight, any maybe size, certainly complexity, the need for charging, and expense. I have no idea what this bike will cost if it gets off the ground.

Personally, I like this. It would be adequate for a lot of parks near me that allow bikes and don't have dedicated bike trails. I don't ride a bike anymore because of traffic concerns. But something like this could be tossed in the trunk and taken to a location conducive to safe/safer riding.

And I would ride this on the sidewalk if I wanted. Illegal, but it's small size would be pretty much like riding a scooter.

Yes, I see a lot of good things about this bike. Here's hoping it goes commercial and doesn't cost more than I'm willing to pay.

[davester]

cbelt3 wrote:
So basically it's a scooter / stepper ? Yeah.... no thanks.

No. Not even close. Scooters/steppers have no efficiency advantage over walking. A bike of any kind is vastly more efficient and faster than any of those.