Bikoff briefcase bike image - Imagining the bicycles of tomorrow (images) - CNET News There are 12 photos of ideas of futuristic bicycles, interesting and weird ideas. The only ideas that I liked were photos 4 and 5. Photo 4 I like the design, or should I say looks, but immediately some problems came up from what I could tell. 1st problem was flat tire or tire replacement looked like it would be a real pain. The 2nd problem is the seat location to the pedals, you would have to pedal the bike with your legs more out in front of you instead of almost under you. Photo 5 is more practical, more like a bike we ride today with the seat in the same position as todays bikes, fast removal of wheels for repairs. My only problem is the integrated lighting system in the handlebars, which means an expensive repair or replacement should something fail; the other possible problem is the number of gears in the hub, if 9 or so, probably no big deal for most except those that ride mountain roads and tourers. Which ones do you like and why?
The only reason I didn't pick photo 3 even though I'm a bit retro myself, was it was too much like todays bicycles, in fact you can buy it today including the wood fenders and wood covered handlebars..actually their bamboo. I saw somewhere on a web site a bamboo bike frame with bamboo fenders and covered handlebars, with wood rims.
That's been my thinking ever since they came out with carbon fiber bikes! Wee, that should cause a comment or two.
I really didn't see anything I liked on those, but they were interesting to say the least. Some of the bikes had such a huge drop from the seat to the bars it seemed like you would be doing handstands while riding! Some also looked like the seat was unmoveable as were some of the bars. I guess it's art gone crazy...artistic in the modern sense but impracticable in the daily sense.
