Tag Archives: bicycle

Top 10 Bicycles Designs That Are Comfortable, Convenient & Eco-Friendly For Your Daily Commute

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In 2023, living more sustainably and consciously should be a priority for all of us, – whether it’s making changes in our daily lives, consumption, or even our means of transportation. Our typical fossil-fuel-consuming means of transportation need to be replaced by greener and more environment-friendly alternatives, and bicycles are an appealing option! Not only do they curb fuel consumption and reduce automotive emissions, but they’re also a healthy source of exercise for us! I mean, not only do we get to save the Earth from air pollution, but we can also get some intense cardio done. And, we’ve curated a whole range of innovative designs for you that caught our attention. From a “wheel-less” bicycle to a bicycle with triangle wheels – these impressive bicycles will surely convert you to Team Cycles!

1. The Wheelless Bike

US-based YouTuber The Q recently unveiled a mindboggling bicycle with NO wheels! The bicycle doesn’t have wheels, but it is equipped with rotating elements that ensure it moves forward. It features two sets of wheel belts that are mounted at absurd angles to produce extremely attention-gripping silhouettes. The Wheelless Bike works like a tank, with the bike and you being driven forward by the rotating wheel belts.

2. The Moccle

This super fun bicycle with a unique aesthetic is called the Moccle, and it focuses primarily on the enjoyment of riding. The bicycle doesn’t come with gears, a dashboard, or shock absorbers but features a bent-wood frame to achieve shock absorption. The bent plywood frame is held in place using a metal fixture, and the frame flexes in response to pressure, absorbing all stress from undulating surfaces or bad terrain.

3. IEDEX

Called the IEDEX, this electric bike is an exploration bicycle with ample storage space to hold your camping essentials without being a total eyesore. The e-bike has ad-hoc space to store two luggage bags in the frame itself! The bike skips the down tube courtesy of the unibody design, unlike typical bicycle designs.

4. Gordieiev’s Bicycle with Square Wheels

Sergii Gordieiev designed a bicycle with square wheels! What is really interesting to note is that the wheels on the bicycle don’t actually roll, but instead, the rubber on the conveyor belt-like platform rotates as you hit your foot on the pedal! If you want accurate representation – imagine a war tank moving on its metal tracks without any wheels, only it’s a bicycle, and the wheels are square-shaped!

5. Infinity All-Wheel Drive Bicycle

Stephan Henrich designed an innovative and uniquely shaped bicycle called the Infinity All-Wheel Drive Bicycle. It is one of the most out-of-the-box automotive designs I’ve seen in a while, and it moves forward with the help of a monotyre-clip chain system that creates a temporary rim in the wheel sections as well as a dental belt drive in the interior groove.

6. ADO Air 28

The new ADO Air 28 features a 250W/350W brushless hub motor that delivers the performance boost you need without making its presence heard. The Samsung Battery is disguised as a seat post and delivers an impressive range of up to 100 km in a subtle and stylish design. A smart torque sensor detects your pedaling with precision to determine how much boosting power you need.

7. Nireeka Mega eBike

The Nireeka Mega eBike is powered by the 1500W Bafang Ultra mid-drive with a peak torque of 200nm. The impressive vehicle can take you on speeds of up to 38mph and features a removable 840Wh extended battery that can easily help you reach a range of 51 miles on a single charge.

8. Gordieiev’s Bicycle with Triangle Wheels

Designed by Sergii Gordieiev, this innovative bicycle features triangle-shaped wheels! The ingenious bicycle riding on wheels with rollers moves in a linear manner, forming adjacent lines between each one of the rollers and the flat surface it’s riding on. This enables the triangle wheels to overcome their limitation and roll more comfortably than presumed.

9. Flluid-2 & Flluid-3

FUELL’s newest bikes provide some of the longest ranges in the market as well as comfort, safety, convenience and style.  With a full charge of its 2000W battery, the Flluid-2 can go for up to 225mi (350km), the longest recorded range for e-bikes across the globe. And the Flluid-3 doesn’t fall far behind with a long range of 110 mi (180km)!

10. The ONEBOT-S7

The ONEBOT-S7 utilizes a unique three-fold structure instead of the usual two-step folding design that we’re all familiar with. This makes the e-bike ultra-compact when folded, so it can easily fit into the boot of your car, or slide under your workstation (however and wherever you wish to use it).

The post Top 10 Bicycles Designs That Are Comfortable, Convenient & Eco-Friendly For Your Daily Commute first appeared on Yanko Design.

This all-rounder urban e-bike will make any commute a smooth and joyful riding experience

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Personal mobility devices are all the rage these days, but among all of them, the electric bicycle or e-bike is the most satisfying option. It adds motorized assistance and smart features to the equation without removing the enjoyment of using your body’s power to move forward. E-bikes combine the best of both worlds, allowing people to travel farther, faster, easier, and safer, while still offering the unique thrills that only foot-powered bikes can bring. Their popularity has resulted in a dizzying number of options in the market, but this new urban e-bike rises above the rest with its combination of advanced features, sleek design, and a price tag to die for, taking your rides to the next level and beyond.

Designer: ADO Design

Click Here to Buy Now: $1,417 $2,405 (41% off). Hurry, only 21/50 left! Raised over $110,000.

There are a number of criteria that an e-bike needs to meet the challenge of daily commutes, and the new ADO Air 28 manages to check all the right boxes and then some. Performance is definitely not an issue thanks to its 250W/350W (depending on the model) brushless hub motor that delivers the boost you need without making its presence heard. The Samsung Battery disguised as a seat post delivers an astounding range of up to 100 km in a discreet and stylish design that makes it trivial to remove and charge as needed.

Smart Torque Sensor – Conquer steeper slopes with ease, maintaining effortless control throughout.

Care-free Carbon Belt – “Unchain” your ride with the maintenance-free carbon belt that can last up to 30,000 KM.

Long-Range Samsung Battery – Provides up to an impressive 100km range.

Convenience and comfort don’t take a backseat either. A smart torque sensor detects your pedaling with precision to determine how much boosting power you need, ensuring a smooth and effortless ride even on steeper slopes. A care-free carbon belt throws away the biggest and dirtiest problem of traditional bikes, promising noise-free, maintenance-free, and rust-free riding for up to 30,000 km. An adjustable lockout suspension fork puts you in control of different terrains, and puncture-resistant tires bring peace of mind when navigating roads of all kinds.

All-Weather Power and Comfort – Hydraulic disc brakes deliver powerful stopping power in all weather conditions.

Double Anti-theft System – Keep your battery secure with their unique lock design, while the street wise bell hides an AirTag/SmartTag, adding extra security against bike theft.

Of course, rider safety is also a priority, and the ADO Air 28 e-bike proves its smart design here once again. Hydraulic disc brakes deliver the stopping power you need, no matter the kind of weather you’re riding in. An E-Mark headlamp lights up your path with its bright, wide-angle LED, and its IPX5 rating makes sure it keeps working when it rains. At the same time, a waterproof taillight keeps you safe from behind, rain or shine. The ADO Air 28 can also keep itself safe, thanks to a unique lock design for the battery and the ability to hide an AirTag or Smart Tag inside the street-wise bell. All of these come together in a lightweight and elegant aluminum frame that’s sure to grab the attention and envy of anyone you pass by.

Comfortable Ride, Easy Control – Access real-time data and ensure safety during high-speed rides through our 3.5-inch waterproof display.

But wait, there’s more! This already advanced e-bike also carries its own 3.5-inch waterproof display that can access real-time data to ensure rider safety. It can even adjust the headlamp brightness depending on the environment. Combined with an intelligent mobile app that gives quick access to navigation and customer support, the ADO Smart System makes every ride a breeze. Don’t suffer through grueling traffic and exhausting cycling when you can get the ADO Air 28 e-bike and turn every commute and every ride into a joyful memory.

Click Here to Buy Now: $1,417 $2,405 (41% off). Hurry, only 21/50 left! Raised over $110,000.

The post This all-rounder urban e-bike will make any commute a smooth and joyful riding experience first appeared on Yanko Design.

Innovative Self-Inflating Bicycle Helmet Redefines Safety While Staying Ultra-Compact

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If in this era of pollution, pandemic, and panic, you aren’t already a bicycle person, it’s high time you convert into one! Bicycles are slowly becoming people’s preferred means of transportation. People are ditching the fossil fuel consuming and air pollution causing automobiles for the more eco-friendly option of bikes. Not only are bicycles a boon to the environment, but they also promote good health and ensure we get our daily dose of physical exercise done. In fact, you can even upgrade and amp up your bicycle with some fun and functional accessories. And, an excellent bicycle accessory that prioritizes safety and functionality that you should definitely get your hands on is the Bumpair 2.0.

Designer: Bumpair

A couple of years ago French company Bumpair designed a super cool inflatable helmet. Bumpair went on to team up with a scooter share company in France, and together they offered the helmet with a rather innovative feature – the minute you unlock one of their scooters, you need to simply hit a button on the app, and the helmet automatically inflates! This was the first version of the helmet, and now Bumpair has unveiled the 2.0 version! Bumpair 2.0 is a portable bicycle helmet that is supposed to provide “up to 4x more [protection] than a classic helmet”.  When you want to use the helmet, you simply inflate it with a hand pump, deflate it once you’re done using it, and keep it away for storage.

Compared to the first version, Bumpair 2.0 is supposed to be much more comfortable! The surface and shape of the helmet are better controlled, so you don’t feel any discomfort or pressure on your head once you wear the helmet. The straps have been better adjusted, providing you with an all-encompassing, comforting, and reassuring feel.

The bicycle helmet has a pressure indicator integrated into its design, which serves as a simple, reliable, and easy-to-use system, that can you access by simply pressing a button, and checking the correct pressure of the helmet before you begin cycling. The Bumpair 2.0 is priced at USD $287, and will be available for sale shortly!

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A DIYer’s remarkable mobile home redefines adventure for cyclists

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DIYs and passion projects often remain hidden gems. Occasionally, one innovation breaks through and captures the imagination to become a marketable entity. Case in point, the Hupi trailer by Urpo “Upi” Merranmaa.

The visionary turned an ordinary e-bike into a remarkable mobile home with his ingenious creation: the Hupi trailer – born out of a desire for adventure! Back when Upi received an e-bike as a gift, he wanted to put it to some purpose, so he embarked on a multi-day journey. His days camping in a tent didn’t quite appeal to him, so he returned to build his own self-contained trailer he could tow behind his bike and rest up in on overnight halts.

Buy: Hyötyajoneuvokeskus

The fascinating Hupi trailer neatly combines the freedom of an e-bike with the comfort of caravan living. Unlike traditional trailers with modifiable setups, the Hupi has a fixed-roof design. Even though the headspace is not much, the single-person living unit is comfortable for sleeping and has a small dinette for your culinary requirements on the go.

The concept of bicycle campers has not really seen an outgrowth like the travel trailers and RVs, but Upi’s relentless to and fro over 5,000 hours to fully perfect the bike trailer makes it a solution worth putting your money on. If you think so, Hupi is available for purchase at a base price of €5,990 (roughly $6,700).

The trailer exterior is finished in aluminum with a thick urethane sheet running underneath for insulation. Hupi roof can be outfitted with a solar kit to power interior accessories and keep the e-bike fully charged and ready to go. On the inside a bed expands to fill the entire interior, providing a comfortable sleeping space for the solo cyclist. When not sleeping, the bed conveniently folds up against the front wall, transforming into a cushioned bench seat.

With its narrow frame, Hupi can be effortlessly pulled by any e-bike on bike paths, opening up a world of possibilities for adventure seekers within city confines. Besides the solar panel, the trailer also offers optional electrical systems, including an onboard battery, and an inverter for interior and exterior lighting and for keeping the towing e-bike charged for all adventures you throw at it.

 

The post A DIYer’s remarkable mobile home redefines adventure for cyclists first appeared on Yanko Design.

Build Your Own Airless Bicycle Tire WITHOUT a 3D Printer

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It’s safe to say that making Wheel-less Bicycles wasn’t enough for YouTuber The Q. The crazy builder is back with yet another zany invention – creating airless tires that are rugged, have shock absorption, and are entirely handmade from sliced PVC pipes.

Airless tires have been around for practically decades, and even NASA has seen the merits of building tires that aren’t pressurized or prone to puncturing. However, their invention hasn’t really affected consumer-grade vehicles yet, given how complex they can be to manufacture. Most airless tires like this crazy concept by Michelin rely on incredibly complex algorithms that generatively design the wheels, which are so intricate that they can only be built using 3D printers. The Q circumvents that with a lifehack of his own – using cross-sections of a PVC pipe to replicate the same bounce of a regular tire with the robust reliability of an airless one.

Designer: The Q

The tire’s design bases itself on one of The Q’s older prototypes, which used 60 tennis balls instead. Although that solution seemed a lot more MacGyvered than an actual design proposition, this PVC pipe version has all the hallmarks of a clever life hack that could actually work and provide great results. Besides, a long chunk of PVC pipe beats having to buy and replace tennis balls every few weeks.

To make the airless section of the tire, The Q started out by cutting out 1-inch thick sections of the PVC pipe (it also entailed choosing the right, sturdy pipe to begin with). Once he had a few hundred PVC rings, he began drilling holes into them and screwing them together around the periphery of the wheel. Each wheel required 66 PVC rings in three rows of 22 rings each, amounting to 132 rings in total. As soon as the rings were screwed together, the YouTuber mounted the wide tread on top of each wheel, completing the build.

Each wheel used 66 PVC rings

The video acts as a rather clever guide for people looking to build their own airless tires too. Finding the right diameter PVC pipe for your wheel frame may require some math or a little trial and error if you’re like me, but once you’ve found yourself the perfect PVC pipe, make sure you cut it to the right cross-sectional width to give yourself at least 3 rows of rings to ensure the wheel has a reliable and durable build. Obviously, we don’t recommend trying this for a motorcycle or a car… but it helps to just make our disclaimers clear!

Although the tire tread mounting doesn’t look like the most secure fit, it hugged the wheel well enough for a trial run. Future builds could use an expanding PVC ring material to help securely hold the tire treads in place and prevent them from accidentally slipping off. However, the PVC construction served as a pretty decent proof of concept, requiring well under $50 worth of equipment in total.

After each tire was assembled and installed back on the bicycle frame, the YouTuber took it out for a spin, riding it along on tarmac and a park pathway, occasionally alternating between the two to show the wheel’s ability to take minor bumps and undulating terrain. What The Q didn’t display in the video was rough usage (like riding down stairs) or even the condition of the wheels after a day’s worth of riding. Chances are if the wheels did incur any damage, it was probably negligible. PVC pipes are designed to be pretty durable and only show signs of wear and tear if exposed to chemicals or UV radiation like the sun. Even if one of the PVC rings does end up cracking, replacing it seems pretty easy given the broken ring can easily be visually identified, unscrewed, and replaced.

The post Build Your Own Airless Bicycle Tire WITHOUT a 3D Printer first appeared on Yanko Design.

Top 10 bicycle accessories to upgrade your bike this summer

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If in this era of pollution, pandemic, and panic, you aren’t already a bicycle person, it’s high time you convert into one! Bicycles are slowly becoming people’s preferred means of transportation. People are ditching the fossil fuel consuming and air pollution causing automobiles for the more eco-friendly option of bikes. Not only are bicycles a boon to the environment, but they also promote good health and ensure we get our daily dose of physical exercise done. In fact, you can even upgrade and amp up your bicycle with some fun and functional accessories. From an ultra-portable adventure light to the safest cycling helmet for e-bikes – these accessories are the perfect sidekicks to your bicycle!

1. reTyre

reTyre is a zippable tire-tread system that provides your city bicycle the versatility to work off the road too. The simple zipping mechanism enables you to add a secondary, tougher tread on your tires, allowing you to ride on smooth asphalt and tough terrains!

Why is it noteworthy?

reTyre’s special bicycle tire comes with a zipper lining and a selection of treads or skins that you can clad on your existing tire. The original tire works great on asphalt, and the wide variety of skins allows you to ride your bicycle on mud, gravel, rocks, or even snow. Working on straight roads, curved paths, and even on tough downhill trails, the tire treads give you exactly the grip you need, and the industrial-strength zipper system perseveres through rain, snow, or even rocky terrain… every single time.

What we like

  • When not in use, the treads easily fold up and go right into your backpack

What we dislike

  • We don’t know how easily or how long will the tire take to wear down

2. VIRGO

VIRGO is the safest cycling helmet designed for e-bikes! The cutting-edge helmet was created to ensure an optimal balance of safety and performance. The future of helmets is here!

Why is it noteworthy?

VIRGO was designed to provide full protection in a lightweight piece for people who value both safety and performance. This helmet is suitable for e-bike riding, as well as for regular bike rides. Its design skillfully blends lightweight construction, optimal ventilation, and full facial protection in the event of a head-on collision.

What we like

  • Built of a polycarbonate shell with a protective layer of EPS
  • Provides you with a combination of protection and lightness

What we dislike

3. Ray

Designed by Cha Hongkun, this outdoor accompanying portable light is called Ray. It features a wide strap that can be hooked onto your bike, backpack, or essentially anything you can think of.  It is super easy to use, and also extremely portable!

Why is it noteworthy?

The portable LED light can be charged with a USB-C compatible power bank or via a wall outlet. What’s got me hooked here is the cool choice of colors the designer has penned for Ray.

What we like

  • The hook-on functionality is truly unique for an ultra-portable personal light

What we dislike

  • It’s a concept!

4. The G.O.A. Face Protector

The G.O.A. Face Protector is designed to be effective, comfortable, convenient, and aesthetic. It has a versatile design that can be utilized by bikers, sports users, workers, and crafters as well!

Why is it noteworthy?

Despite that unified appearance, the face protector is actually modular to make it easy to clean or replace parts. One particularly interesting feature is that you actually remove the front cap so that you can drink quickly without having to take off the entire mask.

What we like

  • The cap can also be used as an opportunity for adding decals or branding to make the face mask look even more interesting

What we dislike

  • It’s a concept!

5. Lockinvisible

You can secure your ride safely and in style with the Lockinvisible fully integrated bicycle lock. It features a seamless design, great security, and convenience. It has a stylish integration, that allows the lock to harmoniously integrate into your bike’s seat post.

Why is it noteworthy?

You can effortlessly install it by simply replacing your bike’s seatpost with Lockinvisible, and adjusting the seat height by using a height-fixing adapter. It’s a quick, easy, and efficient process.

What we like

  • It’s a part of your bike, so you never end up losing it

What we dislike

  • We’re not sure how sturdy it is!

6. Slapstick Smart Bicycle Lock

The Slapstick Smart Bicycle Lock reinvents the entire bike lock category with its fun, fresh, and fast-deploying design. Inspired by the popular children’s toy, the slap-band, this smart lock literally snaps around your bicycle frame, with a belt-like locking mechanism that adjusts to match the size of your frame and the pole you’re attaching your bicycle to.

Why is it noteworthy?

Affixing the lock is as easy as just snapping it in place and watching the band automatically wrap around your bicycle. The lock’s smart hub helps you secure and remove the Slapstick without needing a key, making the entire process simple, fast, and intuitive!

What we like

  • Inspired by a popular children’s toy
  • Can use your smartphone to lock and unlock it

What we dislike

  • It’s still a concept!

7. FR-1 Bike Saddle

Called the FR-1 Bike Saddle, this innovative bike seat is made from cork and is a sustainable solution for bikes and bike parts. It’s quite a radical design since it utilizes a material that is not usually used for bike parts.

Why is it noteworthy?

At first, you would think this is not a sturdy and comfortable material for something that you will be sitting on probably for a long period. But cork is actually pretty durable and lightweight so it should be something that can last a long time and not hurt your tushy that much. It is also water-resistant and can offer better cushioning compared to other materials.

What we like

  • Stronger but also more lightweight compared to the more common steel that a lot of bike seats use
  • Sustainable + supports historic local cork farming

What we dislike

  • It is a bit expensive

8. TOOB

More economical and efficient than recycling, the upcycling mentality has taken root with many designers, and this line of TOOB accessories demonstrates how even something as simple and unattractive as an inner tube can become a useful and even stylish product.

Why is it noteworthy?

“Useless” bicycle inner tubes are handpicked from Tel Aviv’s local shops and are then inspected and thoroughly cleaned. Depending on how much damage it has, the useful parts are cut off and then transformed into completely different products. The TOOB Keychains, for example, only need a small part of the inner tube. In addition to the material’s natural durability, TOOB adds a strong button that makes it easy to open and close the keychain to look around belts and bags.

What we like

  • Supports the local bicycle economy by giving shop owners a better way to dispose of their waste

What we dislike

  • Inner tubes don’t last forever, though, and TOOB does admit that the material will eventually wear out and dry

9. Omnilock

Omnilock multifunctional Bike Lock is a unique bicycle accessory that performs double duty as a bright taillight and tire inflator as well. This multiple utilities of the accessory means – the rider has less to worry about – if he/she is an avid bicycle user.

Why is it noteworthy?

Someone who likes to pedal to the mountains or spend a whole lot of time going for extended bike runs in the morning for fitness. Safety is another important thing that the bike lock addresses as the taillight adds another layer of visibility for motorists to take note of when on the go. That means the bike lock sits right under the saddle when in commute, and when you need to park it, simply take out Omnilock and lock the rear wheel.

What we like

  • Performs double duty as a bright taillight and tire inflator as well

What we dislike

  • It’s a concept!

10. The LIVALL LTSW21

The LIVALL LTSW21 are wireless earphones that have been designed and created, especially for cyclists. They are designed by the same company that brought us the LIVALL EV021 smart helmet with built-in safety lights,

Why is it noteworthy?

With a unique design that allows you to wear most cycling helmets along with the earphones, the LTS21 gives you the ability to listen to music/podcasts, answer calls, and talk to fellow riders while still providing situational awareness through its open-ear design.

What we like

  • It can be worn regularly as well as with your cycling helmet

What we dislike

  • Color options are limited to black and white – we would love to see more variations in it!

The post Top 10 bicycle accessories to upgrade your bike this summer first appeared on Yanko Design.

Meet the “Wheel-less” Bicycle That’s Breaking All the Rules and Turning Heads

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If you’re familiar with the square-wheeled bicycle from back in April, wacky YouTuber The Q is back with yet another proposition – Forget square wheels… what if the bicycle had NO wheels?

The US-based YouTuber pulls out all the stops with his absurdly fascinating videos. He’s made the world’s smallest bicycle, a bicycle with 60 tennis balls for tires, and even one with split, semi-circular wheels. The great part about all his experiments is that as bizarre they may sound, they still work at the end of the day… and you get the pleasure of watching The Q build out the bicycle concepts throughout the video, just in case you want to build your own wacky mode of transportation too!

Designer: The Q

While The Q’s bicycle doesn’t have wheels, it still relies on rotating elements that help push it forward. The bike comes with two sets of wheel belts, mounted at absurd angles to create one of the most attention-gripping silhouettes one could imagine. The way the Wheelless Bike works is sort of like a tank, with the rotating wheel belts driving you forward. Is it ‘technically correct’ to say that this bicycle doesn’t have wheels? No, because it does have rotating elements all across the board… but it ditches those large rubberized wheels that make up the iconic bicycle’s archetype.

Pedal away and the wheel belts rotate, carrying you forward. Don’t expect to hit high speeds, given how small the wheel belt’s curved radius is, but you can definitely expect a few curious stares and maybe a couple of questions from bewildered onlookers! Would I recommend riding this on rough terrain or a bumpy road? Probably not!

To build the wheelless bike, The Q found himself a bike frame sans the wheels. Instead of installing the conventional circular wheels, though, he used linear metal members with chains mounted on the rim, and a rubber tread around the chains, like the wheel belt seen on tanks. To have the pedals work this belt, The Q added another gear to the bike frame, connecting the pedals to the top of the rear ‘wheel’. To secure the wheels in place, they were then fixed at two points, allowing them to hold their angular mounting position as you rode the bicycle.

The entirely silent YouTube video doesn’t provide much scope for justification – for example, why angle the treads when you could make them flat like a tank for extra stability? Or why build something as absurd as this AT ALL? However, the 6-minute 47-second visual journey The Q takes on is quite a fun ride… just like his bicycle, I suppose!

The post Meet the “Wheel-less” Bicycle That’s Breaking All the Rules and Turning Heads first appeared on Yanko Design.

Unique Reuleaux triangle-shaped wheels on this bike is far more comfortable than you’d imagine

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If you thought the square-wheeled bicycle was a logically impossible build, a Reuleaux triangle cycle ride is even bonkers. Sergii Gordieiev, who’s an engineer by profession and inventive fabricator by nature, bamboozled us with his earlier creation and now, another fresh DIY has left us yearning for more.

Just like the square-wheeled bicycle that seemed logically impossible to move – but still, it did smoothly – this ingenious build too surprises with its nifty engineering. The ingenious bicycle riding on wheels with rollers move in a linear manner, forming adjacent lines between each one of the rollers and the flat surface it’s riding on. This enables the triangle wheels to overcome their limitation and roll more comfortably than presumed.

Designer: Sergii Gordieiev

Even more so, the bicycle can traverse and maneuver uneven terrain like dirt trails with equal dexterity. If we think based on the laws of physics, for the Reuleaux triangle-shaped wheels it is the “simplest and best-known curve of constant width other than the circle.”

The DIY bike is ridden like any other pedal-powered bicycle even though it looks highly improbable. Also, the rider doesn’t feel as much discomfort as one would assume. Articulated arms soak up most of the wheel’s movement and don’t transfer it to the rider. Truly a feat of engineering that’s a cakewalk for Sergii, given his previous builds.

Although it doesn’t ride as smoothly as the square-shaped version, still the dampening of all that lateral movement is an achievement. Just seeing those wheels and the noise coming from them will grab anyone’s attention.

The post Unique Reuleaux triangle-shaped wheels on this bike is far more comfortable than you’d imagine first appeared on Yanko Design.

Is wood strong enough to make a bicycle frame? This award-winning 2-wheeler says yes

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If wood is strong enough for buildings and furniture, why not use it for bicycles too? That’s pretty much the thought process that led Masateru Yasuda to design the Moccle, a bicycle that relies on the flexible yet sturdy properties of bent plywood sheets. Traditional Japanese buildings have taken advantage of wood’s flexibility and vibration-absorption properties to build structures that have survived earthquakes, Yasuda points out. “I wondered if I could make a bicycle that takes advantage of the characteristics of this wood,” he adds.

The Moccle is a fun bicycle with a unique aesthetic that puts the enjoyment of riding front and center. It doesn’t come with gears, a dashboard, or even shock absorbers (funnily enough, there’s no bell on it too), but rather, uses a bent-wood frame to achieve shock absorption. Held in place using metal fixtures, the bent plywood frame flexes in response to pressure, helping absorb any sort of stress by undulating surfaces or bad terrain… just the way traditional buildings in Japan would weather earthquakes by absorbing tectonic stress.

Designer: Masateru Yasuda

Yasuda makes a rather interesting point about how wood is basically carbon-fiber, but occurs naturally. Trees, like all living organisms, are carbon-based… which makes wood more similar to carbon fiber than you’d think. To make the frame, Yasuda first created his plywood, sandwiching thin sheets of carbon fiber between sheets of wood just to make the frame age-proof and resistant to shrinkage or cracking. The final ply was then cut into its desired profiles, before being bent into shape using steam. Finally, the wooden frame was plugged into its metal holders, giving you a bicycle that’s sturdy yet flexible, and designed to last long.

“Moccle is a bicycle that you can easily ride in casual clothes. A simple design that anyone can ride without a complicated transmission,” Yasuda says. “Just pedaling with your usual sneakers, you can spend a relaxing time at your favorite cafe. The bike’s simple design highlights its use case perfectly. It isn’t made for performance, or for terrain. The Moccle is a purely recreational two-wheeler designed to just enjoy life. The project started in 1999 and the 1st wooden bicycle was made in Osaka, Japan. The 2nd model was made in Nagano and named Moccle in 2012. The 3rd model wooden bicycle started production in 2019 and was exhibited at the Wood Collection Show in Tokyo in January 2023.

The Moccle is a Gold Winner of the A’ Design Award for the year 2023.

The post Is wood strong enough to make a bicycle frame? This award-winning 2-wheeler says yes first appeared on Yanko Design.

Square-wheeled bicycle does MJ’s moonwalk on the tarmac – and I still can’t get my head around it

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When we think of wheels, the first thing that comes to mind is a circle. But for once, a DIY wants to mess with your perception of how anything on wheels can move in any other geometric shape. Yes, a square-shaped wheel for a bicycle, and it can still be pedaled smoothly – just like Michael Jackson performing Billy Jean!

An engineering feat worth applauding, the wheel on the bicycle doesn’t actually roll, rather the rubber on a conveyer belt-like platform rotates as you put the foot to the pedal. Picture a war tank moving on its metal tracks sans any wheels, only this time around it’s a bicycle and the wheel is square-shaped.

Designer: Sergii Gordieiev

While the bicycle messed with my sense of logic and physics at first, the ingenious custom built started to grow eventually for its actual rideability aspect. You can even take turns with it, so completely useable in a city – for intent and purposes of course. Coming on to the actual build, the engineer turned DIYer used discarded bicycle parts to craft the square shape of the tires with the frame to hold the chainrings in place. Then he added rollable wheels between them to make the rotation smooth with minimum friction. Topping it up with the rectangular chains wrapped in tire rubber completed the DIY.

While the metal used on the wheels makes it bulky, the weight is offset by shredding some of the body. This balances things, making the pedal-powered ride bewilder anyone passing by. Sergii labels this as one of his craziest projects ever, and other projects on his YouTube channel are not ordinary either.

As he cheekily puts it, “Please meet the almost normal bicycle but with one modification – square wheels.”

Is the design practical? Absolutely not, since on ascends the riders will have to sweat it out as compared to a normal bike that has lesser surface area something in contact with the surface it’s riding on. However, we absolutely love the build because of the clever approach the DIYer adopts to turn eyeballs on the pavement. He sure is winning some lady love around town for this bicycle’s swift moves. Smooth Criminal indeed!

The post Square-wheeled bicycle does MJ’s moonwalk on the tarmac – and I still can’t get my head around it first appeared on Yanko Design.