which chainless bicycles to fund?

[luv2liv]

i have seen this awhile back
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/487492813/the-bicymple?ref=live

and heres another 1. looks much simpler, more conventional
http://www.gofundme.com/1y0feo

both are awesome for the city and looks virtually maintenance-free

 

[MiniDoom]

looks like both would be a bitch to ride and hard on the knees. I would never buy that.
also a lot of pressure on the wrists.

 

[phucheneh]

Reinventing the bicycle? Really? We got over the concept of tying the pedals directing to a wheel (see: penny farthing/high wheeler).

Those look horribly uncomfortable, probably unstable, and would suffer severely from gearing issues. "Fixies" don't use a 1:1 ratio. Enjoy that 10mph top speed.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

If it ain't broke don't fix it. Those are a step backward, current bicycles are fine.

 

[phucheneh]

If it ain't broke don't fix it. Those are a step backward, current bicycles are fine.

Especially considering the biggest issue with chains is losing them as they drop across sprockets to change gears. Fixed gear (freewheel or not) kind of already addressed that. You have to neglect/abuse one pretty hard to lose your chain.

Plus, if you really want to eliminate chains...uh, shaft drive. Which I'm pretty sure has been around since WWII or earlier.

 

[PottedMeat]

my mtb is nearly maintenance free. buy brake pads once in a while, lube the chain, adjust the derailleur.

the only thing i really want is a nearly puncture proof tire.

 

[NutBucket]

Hipsters....

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Both projects seem rather odd to me. Bicycles are primarily utilitarian. These projects seem to be more about investing in art.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Neither of those are an upgrade to the current setup ...

 

[lxskllr]

I'm not willing to write it off outright, but that's something I'd definitely have to try before buying. If you made the frame split in the middle so it folds or comes apart, it might make an interesting urban commuter.

 

[lord_emperor]

Those look incredibly painful for anyone with a penis.

 

[crashtestdummy]

$800 for a bicycle that just has the pedals on the back wheel? WTF?

 

[MiniDoom]

it's like a unicycle with a training wheel.

 

[luv2liv]

it's like a unicycle with a training wheel.

exactly my thought!
and why the heck are they so expensive!!!! might as well get a disposable Walmart bike

 

[IronWing]

Maybe hydraulic drive? Pushing the pedals to power a pump to push fluid around an impeller on the rear hub.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

::tries to imagine leaning forward that much::

...

::clutches balls reflexively::

 

[Atomic Playboy]

I always thought gears were the work of the devil. This is right up my alley. Now if only we could figure out a way to get rid of other simple machines. Like the wheel. I'd like this bicycle a lot better if the wheel were replaced with a small irregular shaped piece of granite. And the pedals... well, that's just a lever isn't it? High tech sorcery! We'll get rid of that entirely. I'll grab my bicycle, put it between my legs, lift it so that it gently caresses my man-parts and run down the street the way God intended.

Seriously, who the fuck would ever think this was a good idea? "Hey, you know what sucks about bicycles? They're too fast and those crazy gears makes it possible to ride it on surfaces that are steeper than flat. Is there any way I could get rid of all that and also make it look ridiculously stupid at the same time?"

 

[Red Storm]

I always thought gears were the work of the devil. This is right up my alley. Now if only we could figure out a way to get rid of other simple machines. Like the wheel. I'd like this bicycle a lot better if the wheel were replaced with a small irregular shaped piece of granite. And the pedals... well, that's just a lever isn't it? High tech sorcery! We'll get rid of that entirely. I'll grab my bicycle, put it between my legs, lift it so that it gently caresses my man-parts and run down the street the way God intended.

Seriously, who the fuck would ever think this was a good idea? "Hey, you know what sucks about bicycles? They're too fast and those crazy gears makes it possible to ride it on surfaces that are steeper than flat. Is there any way I could get rid of all that and also make it look ridiculously stupid at the same time?"

lol, and yet there's apparently a fairly substantial urban market for this crap.

 

[BladeVenom]

http://www.amazon.com/The-Original-B...dp/B008G2QIWI/

 

[darkewaffle]

Looks hella uncomfy

 

[Drako]

I would fund neither.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

If for whatever reason I wanted a chainless bike (which I don't, particularly) I would get one with a Gates belt and normal, realistic ergonomics rather than one of these.

 

[Jinny]

I'm not willing to write it off outright, but that's something I'd definitely have to try before buying. If you made the frame split in the middle so it folds or comes apart, it might make an interesting urban commuter.

you mean...like this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ckGipUn9Fs

 

[Ken g6]

This one:

It has a better gear ratio!

Edit: P.S. I wonder why they don't have a chainless bicycle with a planetary gear system?

 

[Drako]

This one:

It has a better gear ratio!

Yep, and it also appears to be safer than the "bicymple"