Spoke-less Bike!

[Drago]

Where will they fit the spoke reflectors?

 

[Donger]

You'll find a very hard to please audience of über sceptics here, but don't let that put you off. Just don't ask for money!

Me, I like reading about this kind of stuff, be it doomed to failure or ground breaking.

Then again, you're clearly not even open to the concept of trouserless dogs. People in glass houses ........

 

[Dogtrousers]

Then again, you're clearly not even open to the concept of trouserless dogs. People in glass houses ........

I'm very open minded to all kinds of new innovations.

But there are limits: if it doesn't have down tube shifters it's rubbish.

As to the idea of nude dogs. I don't wish to stray off topic but I'm shocked.

 

[innovative cycler]

Is this yet another hubless/centreless design? Yes but this will be built

How are you managing variable ratio gearing? The same as other bikes just located in a different place

How are you protecting the teeth from damage by the elements? the same way the chain and gears are protected on bikes

How are you dealing with the increased rotational mass (no spokes means stronger rim required means more weight at the outside of the wheel)? We will use nano carbon or carbon fiber so it is as light as possible

How are you gearing up sufficiently for rim drive? We will add a device that instead of connecting to the hub it will connect to the frame.

How is this different from all the pretty looking design innovation winning bikes that never seem to get built? We have drive and passion to take this forward and we will build this bike and take the market by storm

Does it look like a light cycle from TRON. No it looks better remember this will be a push bike not a motorbike... this is something we are also looking into

 

[Scoosh]

Any drawings/ pics yet ?

 

[arallsopp]

How are you protecting the teeth from damage by the elements? the same way the chain and gears are protected on bikes

Wait a sec... Chains and gears aren't protected on bikes. They're consumable parts with an 18 month lifespan and are tolerant of all manner of stretching and nasties. Comparative weight meshing teeth are likely to be vulnerable to damage by ingress of road gunk, and the toothed rim is going to be sat in puddles.

Personally, I welcome the innovation. Don't let us discourage you.

 

[Dogtrousers]

How are you dealing with the increased rotational mass (no spokes means stronger rim required means more weight at the outside of the wheel)? We will use nano carbon or carbon fiber so it is as light as possible

You seem a bit vague on this point. This is the most crucial aspect. A lot of "new" designs that have tried and not quite succeeded in the past (leaf springs for spokes, variable size chainwheels etc) have done so because of the constraints of traditional materials (and the superiority of the existing design), and it's entirely possible that new materials may see them make the step from perennial non-starters to success.

I hope you have plenty of materials science smarts.

Let's face it no one has improved really significantly upon the original diamond frame "safety bicycle" design of the century before last, apart from tweaking it: A gear here, new materials there, the occasional folding frame. The reason for this is that it's a very good design indeed (plus, in sport, the extreme conservatism of the governing body).

 

[arallsopp]

Diamond frame? I have a number of bikes in my shed that have improved upon the DF. Ask poor @ianrauk who (though a massively stronger rider than me) had a Hell of a time playing chase down to Brighton a few years back. Karma got me for the return leg, but believe me, my DFs are not the pinnacle of my rides.

 

[mickle]

Hey everyone,

I am part of a new company which is bringing to market a revolutionary new product... A spokeless bike!

In order to do this the gear will be connected to the bikes rear wheel rim and will run through a series of teeth which turn the wheel. This gear will be positioned at the rear wheels 8 O'clock (If you are looking at the CycleChat logo) and will cause the bike to go faster than if it was positioned normally. The suspension is not affected by the removal of the spokes and this design is less likely to have a tyre bend than a traditional design as the impact is more evenly distributed around the wheel. The bike will be lighter than a traditional bike will have improved steering and will have improved braking in comparison to a traditional bike. There will be an easy release system on the mechanism in case of damage.

Our design can be used on more than just bikes it can also be used on cars, scooters, segways... pretty much anything with a wheel!

We are very excited about this product but we would like to hear some feedback from you all, both positive and negative, if you have any questions about it please comment below and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Show us it then.

 

[innovative cycler]

Show us it then.

The prototype is currently being built, I will upload pictures once it has been finished

 

[mickle]

Why is everyone shouting?

 

[mickle]

Oh ha.

 

[The_Cycling_Scientist]

What if we Wheely like the look of spokes! I wheel not have this spoke off no more! Wire we even being asked? I'll Tyre of it easy!

 

[Shaun]

@innovative cycler will it be fixed gear or freewheel?

 

[Drago]

Chain and gears on conventional drivetrains have a finite life and are essentially disposable. A large person like me can wear a chain to 0.75 in 1000 miles.

With this in mind I do rather hope you don't consider maintaining the mechanism in the same manner as a conventional drive train or you'll be throwing it in the bin very frequently.

I'm intrigued to see how this works out, but I'm not hopeful. Most conceivable permutations have been tried over the last 150 years but the diamond framed spokes wheeled cycle continues to reign supreme because of its unbeatable combination of desirable attributes in the vast majority or cycling applications.

For all that though I wish you luck.