Total Body Cycling!

Trunky. Bottom-heavy. Those are just a few symptoms of “cyclist bod”. Seriously, it’s a thing! This happens when cyclists fail to supplement their extreme lower body training with upper body exercises. This is particularly problematic for those who do long, multi-day rides or camp using their bike where they might not have access to extra upper body equipment.

Designer Boyan Rista recognized this very issue on a 3 month mounting retreat in the Balkans. Basically, his legs were looking fantastic while his arms were…. well… not! The solution: the 4 limb-powered Twicycle! Named for its dual gearing systems, it extends the opportunity for cyclists to work their upper body simultaneously as their lower body. In much the same way the rear tire is powered, the front wheel is geared to an innovative handlebar system that allows the rider to pedal with their arms while steering in addition to pedaling with the legs. For non-cyclists, the extra work might sound taxing… but for those in fear of cyclist bod, it’s a dream come true!

Designer: Boyan Rista [ Buy It Here ]

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The Fabulous Form+Function Bike

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Having been a writer at Yanko for over a year, I’ve seen my fair share of bicycle designs. Some classy and sober, some weirdly outlandish, but aesthetic nonetheless. The Sync bicycle however, is like nothing I’ve seen before. It doesn’t look unnatural, for one. It looks unique, but something about it feels right. The design takes inspiration from the biker’s seating posture, allowing the cycle frame to reflect the user’s body position. The result is a bike that has a powerful visual that almost makes you wonder why all bikes don’t look like this!

The Sync’s unique shape also allows it to absorb decent amounts of shock, while having a strong and sturdy build… but you’re probably not reading any of this because you can’t get your eyes off the bicycle!

Designer: Sync Bicycles

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So Wrong It’s Right

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The electric bike itself is nothing new, and either is this design’s completely carbon frame. Even hubless wheels aren’t unheard of, but on this design that’s exactly what’s piquing my interest even though they’re normally inefficient! Here, the hubless aesthetic is made possible by an electric assist motor located inside the rear wheel frame itself. The alternative pedal mechanism is in fact connected to the electric motor system, ensuring driver and machine are synced as one at all times. Better yet, the man-power generated fuels integrated headlights, safety lights, and an innovative smartphone speed control system.

Designer: Avgustinovich Andrey

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A Twist (rather, slide) on the Folding Bike

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I’m not sure you can even call it a folding bike, because the Somerset utilizes a MUCH more effective system to shrink down to a compact size! At the heart of the design is a horseshoe-shaped, tubular frame that’s used as a slide rail. The circular steel structure and semi-arc frames can be transformed into a rollable handcart in seconds, making it easy to transfer between cycling and other forms of transportation like the subway or bus. Its small compact size also makes it convenient to store when not in use. Better yet, the unique arc and overall shape is as functional as it is beautiful, especially when compared to true folding bike designs.

Designer: Kaiser Chang

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The best bike you’ll see this year

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This week’s absolute gold for cyclists! We’ve already got three articles about two-wheelers up and here’s one to absolutely top them all! Voted as one of the Best of the Best for this year by the Red Dot Jury Panel, the Yunbike is an Aluminium-made fold-able smart bike. What’s so special? IT EXISTS! Stepping beyond the realms of a concept is a massive thing. Most products stay concepts for life, or change so much while becoming a reality, they don’t excite you anymore. The Yunbike, however, looks like something a designer would render, but this is a working prototype right here.

At 15 kgs, this bike can be folded and wheeled around. Apart from being awesome to look at, the Yunbike is a smart little machine too. It pairs with its companion smartphone app, allowing you to lock/unlock your bike remotely. The app also allows you to switch between riding modes, or to customize the lighting on your bike. The app also does good by keeping a check on the bike’s components, pinging you when your parts start going faulty. Now ain’t that just a beaut!?

The Red Dot Best of the Best isn’t given out lightly, which goes to show that the Yunbike truly has a stamp of great design and engineering on it. The Yunbike is the proud recipient of the Best of the Best award for the year 2015.

Designer: Hangzhou YunMake Technology Co. Ltd.

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A Boost of Bamboo

From the creator of the Beacon Alley Skateboard comes the Bamboost e-Bike with the same high-performance, woven bamboo sandwich core construction. Introduced as a pedal-assist bike, it utilizes the Sram e-Matic system to move commuters and city riders (especially on hilly streets). Also for commuters, an integrated, detachable leather messenger bag can hold a rider’s bike charger and lock with plenty of room left for lunch!

Designer: Lance G. Rake

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Yanko Design
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(A Boost of Bamboo was originally posted on Yanko Design)

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A Stationary Bike with Style

The days of the stationary bike are gone but the modern urban dweller’s desire for physical well-being lives on… so long as it looks good! For the discerning fitness freak, Loop brings back the convenience of at-home cardiovascular workouts with simple and approachable style. As far as cycle machines go, it’s ultra-minimal with reduced knobs and dials as well as an internal flyweight that runs on magnetic resistance rather than belts to ensure the ride is as smooth as its looks.  

The stem is manufactured out of stamped sheet aluminum with an aluminum honeycomb core providing structural rigidity, while the main bodies tubular frame is cleverly hidden behind injection-molded plastic made of glass reinforced ABS. The unique circular shaped seat made with an internal lining of memory foam, caresses the ischial tuberosity rather than just support it on the ends, inviting a casual home routine rather than an intense workout. Its minimal part assembly and low profile also directly reduce the shipping weight and volume, decreasing overall market cost for the consumer.
Designer: Nosh Studio

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Yanko Design
Timeless Designs - Explore wonderful concepts from around the world!
Shop CKIE - We are more than just concepts. See what's hot at the CKIE store by Yanko Design!
(A Stationary Bike with Style was originally posted on Yanko Design)

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