Tag Archives: Cycle

65 Mile Range and a 500W Motor make this E-Bike Perfect for roads and rough terrain alike

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Even without bringing the economy up, needing to own two sets of e-bikes just sounds like a silly idea. Most urban commute bikes can’t endure off-road adventures, and rugged terrain-ready e-bikes aren’t really meant for lightweight long-range last-mile commutes. If you’re going to design an e-bike, the holy grail is to make one that serves both those needs perfectly. The perfect e-bike needs to have a powerful motor, a durable design, a lightweight build, adaptable riding modes, and a range that serves longer journeys well. The Elixe eBike hopes to embody that definition of perfection – with a rugged 6061 aluminum frame that weighs a mere 42 pounds, punctureless tires, a 500W motor coupled with a torque sensor, 5 riding modes, and a range of 65 miles with a top speed of 28mph, the Elixe is quite the contender for the ideal all-purpose e-bike. Oh, and it has a removable battery, a smartphone app, and anti-theft features.

Designers: J Goyal, Frank Butcher and Sashi K

Click Here to Buy Now: $679 $1699 (60% off). Hurry, exclusive deal for YD readers only! Raised over $161,000.

The heart of the Elixe experience is its robust frame. Constructed from lightweight yet robust 6061 aluminum alloy, the frame prioritizes rider comfort with a strategically placed seat and upright handlebars that promote a relaxed posture, minimizing strain on joints for extended journeys. This ergonomic design is seamlessly integrated with advanced technology, creating an unparalleled level of freedom and ease on two wheels. The frame’s impressive 42 lbs weight keeps the overall eBike maneuverable, while the sturdy construction ensures it can handle any adventure, from city streets to rugged trails.

Elixe’s Five Dynamic Pedal Assist Modes

The frame features an integrated removable 14Ah battery that sits flush inside the e-bike’s main pillar. Made from EV-grade Samsung cells, the battery gives the Elixe a range of 65 miles, delivering power to the 500W rear-wheel Bafang motor (EU riders get a 250W motor as required by EU guidelines). Riders can personalize their experience with Elixe’s five distinct pedal-assist modes. Glide effortlessly through cityscapes or conquer demanding terrains – the perfect level of assistance awaits to match any rhythm and riding style. Elixe also offers an intuitive throttle mode for effortless power on demand. With a simple twist, you can get a quick boost on inclines or navigate busy streets without the constant pedaling. An integrated torque sensor detects the force applied to the pedals, seamlessly adjusting motor output for a natural and responsive ride. Whether you’re cruising effortlessly or tackling a steep incline, the torque sensor ensures a perfect balance of power and effort, making every ride feel smooth and enjoyable.

Swap-and-Go: The Removable Battery

Mastering Terrain with Elixe’s Front Fork Suspension

Elixe’s Puncture-Protected Tires Ensure A Safe Journey

The puncture-proof tires are just a clever feature that sets the Elixe apart. Most e-bike riders have range anxiety… but a flat tire is just something nobody looks forward to. Ensuring that your e-bike doesn’t give up on you in the middle of a ride makes the Elixe feel much more reliable as you ride it, knowing that the e-bike can absolutely handle anything you throw at it. Meanwhile, the hydraulic front fork suspension absorbs bumps and jolts with ease, providing a smooth ride across any landscape. This advanced suspension system enhances handling and stability, allowing riders to navigate even the roughest terrains with confidence and control.

Instant Power with Elixe’s Throttle Mode

Ride Easy with Torque Sensor

A sleek and intuitive dashboard displays key metrics like speed, battery life, and distance traveled, allowing riders to stay informed and plan their journeys effectively. Like any good e-bike, it also comes with anti-theft features that prevent the e-bike from being stolen or towed away without your knowledge. The frame is embedded with a GPS tracker, accessible through the Elixe smartphone app. This app not only tracks the eBike’s location in real time but also sends instant alerts for suspicious activity. Additionally, the app allows riders to remotely lock the motor, deterring potential theft. The Elixe app goes beyond security; it enhances the entire riding experience. Riders can utilize the app to effortlessly track trips, analyze metrics like calories burned, and set fitness goals. The app also allows for remote customization of pedal-assist modes and access to a variety of additional features designed to maximize enjoyment and performance. With the Elixe app, every ride becomes a connected, informative, and secure experience.

Available in two styles – a step-thru frame for shorter riders, and a step-over frame for taller patrons, the Elixe offers 5 color variants to choose from. The 250W motor variant ships globally (although it’s specifically designed for the EU market) and is priced at $679, while the US-only 500W motor version is priced at $849. For the price, you get the e-bike, a charger for the battery (which takes 2.5 hours to charge fully), a kickstand, a toolkit, and a 3-year warranty. You can add more accessories to your pledge like an extra battery, a fast charger, a rear rack, a front basket, a tire inflator, or if you’re feeling very experimental, a cargo trailer!

Click Here to Buy Now: $679 $1699 (60% off). Hurry, exclusive deal for YD readers only! Raised over $161,000.

The post 65 Mile Range and a 500W Motor make this E-Bike Perfect for roads and rough terrain alike first appeared on Yanko Design.

This DIY wooden bicycle is an open source design that makes you think about sustainable living!

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This bicycle made of plywood was created with an intent to get more people to focus on sustainability. The open source design is called ‘Openbike’ and despite the obvious problems that come with a bike made from plywood, it is still an affordable and lightweight alternative to those who want to live on a budget but are also eco-conscious. You can download the files to build your own bike here!

“This is not about bicycles! Open your eyes, this is about you, about your attitude towards the future. Do you think that the pollution of the cities will disappear by itself? Do you think traffic jams are caused by others?” reads the Openbike website which makes the mission statement of the design very clear – they’re not claiming to offer the durability or a thief-proof bike but rather shift your perspective on affordability and sustainability.

The multidisciplinary Spanish design studio wants to reduce carbon emissions in cities by empowering people with technology which is why they made Openbike so that the files can be downloaded and fabricated by anyone in the world. They have been prototyping designs since 2017 and the final version is can be used by anyone, incorporates storage racks to transport goods, and employs a simple construction from widely available materials like off-the-shelf plywood.

Architects Raquel Ares and Iñaki Albistur said, “It is a manifesto on sustainable urbanism, urban transport, distributed manufacturing, shared knowledge, the community, and the responsible use of resources, that materializes in the design of a non-polluting urban transport, the bicycle, that can be manufactured by its own use within the city where it is going to be used.”

To fabricate the bike, you have to download the drawings from their website. Then you can take the drawings to a local digital fabrication workshop where the CNC machine cuts the body of the bicycle from plywood and uses 3D printing for elements such as the saddle, front hub, and hand grips which could also be recycled from old bikes depending on the resources available.

The fabrication files for Openbike are licensed under creative commons 4.0, allowing the designs to be improved, modified, manufactured, and shared again by anyone across the world making it a truly accessible design that only gets better. Based on these principles of open design, Arquimaña encourages further development based on the use of local resources but with global techniques and tools adapted – this way each bike is a little unique, localized but also could be scaled on a global level based on characteristics.

The aim is to empower citizens as a transforming agent, putting technology at their service and prioritizing local production with local resources, which generates active and productive cities, looking to the future from an ecological perspective, trying to reduce carbon emissions to a minimum. The project is part of the global fab city initiative, which challenges cities to produce everything they consume by 2054!

Openbike hopes to offer citizens the necessary methods for manufacturing a non-polluting means of urban transport, the bicycle, by themselves. The project isn’t really about the bike itself, though, but rather the idea that people should think about how they can contribute to a better, more sustainable future.

Designer: Arquimaña

This biodegradable toothpaste + recycled disposable toothbrush combo leaves zero footprint on the environment!

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Disposable paper products come in handy more often than we might expect. While it’s a responsible and sustainable choice to go with disposable alternatives considering their plastic rivals, it can also be a convenient one. Whether we find ourselves backpacking in the mountains, camping in the woods, or road-tripping across the country, disposable home products are lightweight to carry and easy to get rid of.

A team of designers based in China unveiled their own disposable home product, a recycled paper toothbrush called Cycle that even comes complete with biodegradable toothpaste. Made from food-grade recycled paper, Cycle boasts an environmentally friendly design that’s as physically safe as it is biodegradable. Cycle comes in sets, complete with a protective covering for the toothbrush’s bristles and a detachable sachet of toothpaste. Before use, consumers can remove the protective covering, and rip off the attached packet of toothpaste and once the job is done, Cycle can then be discarded without fear of harming the environment. Packaged in sets of four or five, Cycle makes the ideal travel companion for short camping trips or even indoor getaways that call for a couple of days’ worth of brushing your teeth.

With sustainable design growing in popularity and demand, designers have taken to recycled packaging and biodegradable construction material to home in on their commitment to the environment. The team of designers behind Cycle takes on this global sustainability initiative with a disposable toothbrush that gives value to a new mode of recyclable design, leaving no footprint on the environment.

Designers: Liu Ming, Qin Yimeng, Chen Yuxuan, Lin Weiting, & Yan Tian

Coming in sets of four to five, Cycle comes with a protective covering and detachable sachet of toothpaste for easy application. Users simply remove Cycle’s protective covering, detach toothpaste sachet, apply the toothpaste, and discard after use.

Rivaling only with pre-existing plastic toothbrushes, Cycle leaves no footprint on the environment.

This museum-inspired bicycle garage pushes the boundaries of urban mobility!

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Netherlands’ largest bicycle parking garage has been built in the Hague right in front of the Central Station. This facility is constructed beneath the Koningin Julianaplein and turns the mundane task of parking your bike into a short, memorable experience. Studio Marsman and Silo came together to design a spatial concept that gives you a museum-like experience within a bicycle parking garage. This unconventional creative idea has not only enhanced the comfort and safety of the thousands of daily users, but it has also turned into an attraction in Hague!

With white ceilings, smart directional markings, spacious aisles, and back-lit glass walls, the design for this garage radiates modern aesthetics and a ‘clean’ feeling that is not usually associated with something underground (think New York subway stations!). The garage is large enough to provide a safe space for about 8,000 bicycles and rental bikes within a secure environment. Silo is a creative studio that is known for its out-of-the-box branding, digital, and spatial design, and that combined with Studio Marsman’s strengths makes this project an iconic symbol in Hague’s urban mobility network. “The integrated application of light and spatial identity makes the facility appear more spacious,” explains Rene Stoneman, Creative Director at Silo. “Moreover, the visual interventions support the intuitive orientation, making it easier to find back your bike at the end of the day.”

The most gaze-worthy interior design feature in this garage is the Escher-inspired light wall that encloses the parking facility. The past, present, and future architecture of the Hague forms the basis for one continuous image that comprises façade elements of the city’s buildings. Cyclists experience the city’s skyline in one smooth movement as they move across the space. The exits of the parking garage will be integrated with the above-ground development, which includes residential towers, commercial spaces, and a public square to ensure efficient movement from the first step to the last. The project aims to create a service-oriented facility with a future-proof design that not only makes it easier for the commuter to find his bike but also turns it into a pleasant experience. Did you ever think your public parking garage could basically be an art museum? 2020 continues to surprise us all!

Designers: Studio Marsman and Silo

Be Safe, Be Seen

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Road safety is paramount; there are no negotiations with that. What’s been most impressive the past year is the increased awareness around being seen with spray on reflective materials and various lighting solutions for cyclists, but Marc Sapetti’s Blinkers are by far my favorite concept of them all. The next generation bicycle lights – whatever the angle and the situation, Blinkers can be seen and alert those around you.

The operation of Blinkers is simple, which makes them highly efficient – the rear blinker indicates the direction of the turn, by blinking to the right or the left. The front Blinker is synchronized with the back Blinker, while also incorporating a strong white head light.

Accessibility is also a massive factor with Blinkers, incorporating a magnetic snap-on, snap-off system making them easier to dismount. Quite an elegant design, Blinkers is a gorgeous addition to any bike and is sure to keep the rider safe given any conditions.

Designer: Marc Sapetti

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