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Testing The Bicycles Of The Future

Posted October 14, 2013 2:17 PM

From BBC News - Technology:

Testing personal transport devices - but will they ever replace the bicycle?

Watch The Clip Here

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SolarEagle
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#1

Re: Testing The Bicycles Of The Future

10/14/2013 7:11 PM

Low tech version.....

The Travelling Treadmill version.....

Bicycling for groups in confined spaces.....

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PWSlack
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#3
In reply to #1

Re: Testing The Bicycles Of The Future

10/15/2013 3:38 AM

Could some kind reader please explain what the point of the second one actually is?

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SolarEagle
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#4
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Re: Testing The Bicycles Of The Future

10/15/2013 7:09 AM

Weight loss....?

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#5
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Re: Testing The Bicycles Of The Future

10/15/2013 7:25 AM

It's the transport equivalent of selling the public shares in the Royal Mail that they already own.

You are still walking and you arrive at exactly the same point as if you walked, but some wonk sells it you as a 'good idea'....
Del

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PWSlack
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#8
In reply to #5

Re: Testing The Bicycles Of The Future

10/15/2013 9:24 AM

Ah! Good. That's settled, then. Thanks.

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Charlie Greenwood
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#2

Re: Testing The Bicycles Of The Future

10/15/2013 1:16 AM

Here's a new type of bicycle we've been seeing quite a bit lately: leisurefitness.com/Elliptigo-C460.aspx
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Vandarye
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#11
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Re: Testing The Bicycles Of The Future

10/17/2013 4:01 PM

My wife has the Elliptigo 8C, pretty nice bike and is low impact on the knees. I prefer a standard road bike and ride a Felt Bicycles Z85 myself.
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#6

Re: Testing The Bicycles Of The Future

10/15/2013 8:03 AM

Do the makers of those 'personal transport devices' in the video clip actually think that elderly people would consider sitting or standing on those things - and then lean without upper-body support to make it go? If they actually think that, they're demonstrating a level of ignorance about old people that is alarming.

The young lady on the first one looks like she's barely able to hold on and sit comfortably. The young guy on the second one looks like he does ok, but I'm trying to picture an 85 year old person with arthritis, blood pressure concerns, and balance issues trying to stand unsupported while maneuvering that thing. Well he wouldn't need to worry about his arthritis, blood pressure, or vertigo for very long; he'd just need to make sure his will is up to date.

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SolarEagle
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#9
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Re: Testing The Bicycles Of The Future

10/15/2013 6:46 PM

It's preposterous!!

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Phys
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#7

Re: Testing The Bicycles Of The Future

10/15/2013 8:19 AM

As someone who rides bikes nearly daily and also has spent many hours re-building and testing bikes, (I have a stable of 10 bikes and a small garage full of seats/cranks/wheels.....) I find the seating position to not be very efficient. The easiest pedaling definitely occurs when you are seated in a more forward position, as on a road bike. Seated upright like that totally kills your efficiency.I was complaining about the latest bike I purchased to the dealer as it seemed very efficient on steep climbs, but lousy on the flats, then I followed my own advice and moved the bar forward and raised the seat a half inch - presto - problem fixed. Definitely not a good seating position.

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Charlie Greenwood
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#10

Re: Testing The Bicycles Of The Future

10/15/2013 7:05 PM

Have you seen the Pubcycle? It looks like a barrel of fun: cyclepub.com
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Charlie Greenwood (2); Phys (1); PWSlack (2); SolarEagle (3); Usbport (1); user-deleted-1105 (1); Vandarye (1)

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