live-cycle

The wheel has been around (no pun intended) for almost as long as man has been on the move. Once it was invented (or was it simply discovered?), it has been almost impossible to improve upon. Likewise the bicycle. We can improve on the materials but it is very difficult to improve on the design. But that, of course, doesn’t stop people from trying.
And that brings us to the revolutionary Stepper. Except that it isn’t revolutionary because, where you pedals would normally go round, this bike has paddles that you pump up and down, a bit like climbing steps. And it has no seat, so you’re standing all the time.
It looks like fun, but I’m not so sure that it will catch on. You can see the “bike” being ridden on TimesOnline.
Of course, folding bikes are a different kettle of fish, and an area where there is ongoing search from improvement.

Brompton has set a very high standard that all others, even my beloved Airnimal, are still struggling to achieve. Now a Royal College of Art graduate has come up with a radical idea that just might catch on – if it proves quick and easy to fold.
It has been named the Contortionist – let’s just hope that that refers to the bike, and not the person riding it. I hope that everything fits into place properly – I would hate to think what might happen if you hit a pothole at 30mph while tearing down the Embankment. More on this at thelondonpaper

This entry was posted on Saturday, August 15th, 2009 at 5:59 pm and is filed under Dennis. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.