Olympic cyclist predicts the future of bicycles

jitrobug

#1 – 10:18 AM August 11, 2009

how do you put a rack on it?

or will we not need to carry things in 20 years?

Julian Turner

#2 – 10:33 AM August 11, 2009

And it can't go around corners while you're pedalling. At least not without your feet hitting the front wheel.

pupdog

#3 – 10:57 AM August 11, 2009

Never be stolen as long as the thieves don;t think to just pick it up and walk away or pop it in the back of a truck, that is. I'm sure that 'unbreakable' fingerprint lock would be a lot easier to crack somewhere private.

binc

#4 – 11:17 AM August 11, 2009

When ever I see this sort of thing I always think - Well why don't you just make it then? (Apart from the gadget bits which will break after two weeks anyway).
Carbon fibre frame, foam filled tyres, bearing runners. Just Make it - Go on - JUST MAKE IT !

xzzy

#5 – 11:48 AM August 11, 2009

I guess it's going to be using the mythical better-than-100% efficient solar panels? Because that thing doesn't have enough surface area to solar power an LED.

I guess there's no need for gears in the future either.

Gonna be a rough day when you hit a bump and snap the seat off, too.

MichaelRN

#6 – 12:05 PM August 11, 2009

If manufacturing costs can be equalized, the bicycle of the future will be a recumbent.

brianary

#7 – 12:11 PM August 11, 2009

...and there'll be a firepole down to it, and it turns into a submarine, and it will shoot lasers, and it comes with an underground base protected by a moat filled with lava-proof sharks with friggin' lasers on their heads, and the logo will be a liger!

RedShirt77

#8 – 12:13 PM August 11, 2009

breaks would be a better power source than solar.

I have often thought of how nice it would be to have a security system on a bike. It doesn't need to make it impossible to walk off with, just too expensive to make the act profitable by hurting any resale of a stolen bike.

Pete

#9 – 12:14 PM August 11, 2009

Just look at the design - how can the pedals turn the rear wheel?

Anonymous Anonymous

#10 – 12:22 PM August 11, 2009

#7
I think 2 gears connecting the crank and some ridge on the rear rim could easily be housed in the frame

dculberson

#11 – 12:23 PM August 11, 2009

Integral shaft drive? Induction? Unicorn farts? Who cares, it's the future! They'll take care of it then.

("In the future, everything will work.")

feedingfashionistas

#12 – 12:30 PM August 11, 2009

Those "rim/tire as wheel on big circular track" ideas have been shown not to work- there's way too much friction, and no good way to drive the wheel from the pedals (and what about shifting?).

"Unpoppable" tires do exist, but they tend to be either solid (read: heavy, leaden feel) or, if pneumatic, so kevlar'd to the nines or full of goop that they weigh too much and feel crappy. Given that, it's worth mentioning that tire changes would be a PITA with this wheel system.

"Crap, my rear tire's all worn out"

"Time to take the whole rear end of the bike apart!"

"Double crap."

I'm not quite grok'ing the bars, either- are there supposed to be two hand positions on the bullhorns, or is that some sort of giant brake lever? Looks like a solution in search of a problem, to me.

...and don't get me started on the centerless pedals (whoopie! nothing to push on!)

In the spirit of blue-sky solutioneering here, I'd like to put forth a concept bike I've been working on, also slated for release in 2029!

http://bit.ly/TheZephyr

Halloween Jack

#13 – 12:52 PM August 11, 2009

The problem with Olympic cyclist Chris Boardman is that he's an Olympic cyclist. Not only is this not a terribly original design--I've seen similar bikes, albeit with some sort of spokes--but it has nothing to do with why and/or how people actually ride and use bikes.

Anonymous Anonymous

#14 – 1:15 PM August 11, 2009

Well the wheel concept is pretty commonly used with future bikes (of the motor or pedal variety) and they do have significant issues (friction, sturdiness, load positioning). The seat is not a problem, design of this kind already exist and work, the post is flexible. The transmission is going to have to be hidden in the trailing arm, so its details are mysterious and thus concerning. Changing the tire need note be that arduous with the correct design. "Take the whole rear end of the bike apart" - you have changed a tire on an existing bike, right? Coz that pretty much what you have to do right now what with brakes, chain and drop outs. Doesn't take so long, neither would this and depending on the drive design (contact drive on tire for example), might even be easier.

The pedals are no smaller in surface or overall size than a lot of existing "clipless" systems, so that's hardly an issue.

I'm not saying the design doesn't have issues, but at least pick on the things are actually wrong, not areas where it more of less conforms with existing bike designs. Oh and this is a concept sketch, so it's always gunna be very short on troublesome details.

Marshall

#15 – 1:21 PM August 11, 2009

Let's see...

Today's bike has been designed by over a century of millions of individual users and tens of thousands of engineers and mechanics evolving an ever better solution.

Chris Boardman's bike "of the future" was cooked up by a couple of folks, has never been tested in any kind of real-world situation and relies on technology that doesn't exist and maybe never will. Not to mention it looks like it was "imagined" (designed is too flattering a word) in 1983 by a guy on coke with an airbrush.

I have more faith that my current bike will still be running in 2029 than I have that Boardman's bike will even exist.

Stakker

#16 – 2:30 PM August 11, 2009

Reminds me of the plastic bike craze of the 80's. New for the sake of new. The "traditional" bicycle design is already very optimised and efficient. I don't see how this design could be made lighter than the diamond frame, which is structurally more solid with less material. I also think that people want to be able fix their bike parts and adjust components according to size or preference. And add tassels :-)

RedShirt77

#17 – 2:31 PM August 11, 2009

Jeez um, the guy was asked to imagine the features on the bike of the future and develops a rendering of some kind. I skimmed the article and it doesn't make direct reference to the image or an actual prototype.

I think all the technology listed is possible to include in a bike.

The rendering might not have room for all those, but it looks cool and is a nice starting point for imagining what the ultimate future bike would look like.

ike

#18 – 2:44 PM August 11, 2009

I wonder how long we have until the future where hubless wheels aren't a ubiquitous feature of wheeled-thing-of-the-future concept images.

maxoid

#19 – 4:07 PM August 11, 2009

i thought the current chain-driven, two-wheel, upright bike design was supposed to be an example of almost perfect engineering, right? lightweight, easy to repair/replace/manufacture, customizable, adjustable, highly efficient.

the hot shit bicycle of the future may well be a svelte, hubless wonder made of high-tech alloys and impossibly precise tolerances, but the current ubiquitous design isn't going to get any less functional, or popular. it won't be usurped by recumbents or folders, either, but alternatives can certainly co-exist. this one certainly looks cool. it would be a nightmare to manufacture and maintain, though.

Tago Mago

#20 – 9:34 PM August 11, 2009

it doesn't need maintaining. it's made out of nanobots. as long as they don't get confused and mistake your butt for their replacement resource module...

Joe

#21 – 10:50 PM August 11, 2009

How are you gunna tighten that headset, or do bikes in the jet pack era not need bearings? How are you going to accomodate different heights and body styles on a bike with out a seatpost and a magical one-piece bar/stem/head tube/headset/fork/hub combo.

Let's just hope it's NJS.

Anonymus

#22 – 1:55 AM August 12, 2009

It seems to never rain in the future either...

Yet another "future of..." draft that is all about "design" (aka slick looking) and doesn't give a shit about functionality. (COMMUTER bike? Huh?) Please do not draw attention to such a silly knick-knack that doesn't deserve it.

Anonymous Anonymous

#23 – 6:10 AM August 12, 2009

......Can I get it in one of the Mountain Dew colors?

omnivore

#24 – 10:08 AM August 12, 2009

It's worth remembering that competitive bike racer of the future is a drug addled pedal-bot with the brain volume reduced to that of a whippet to reduce drag, and with the thighs incorporating time-release drug sacks, clean urine storage areas and digital ink on all surfaces to carry animated sponsor logos.

KanedaJones

#25 – 5:55 PM August 12, 2009

aside from agreeing 90% with #22..

my 10% sez I see you this crap and raise you..

http://www.carbonfibergear.com/cubes-carbon-fiber-collapsible-bicycle-concept/