Ciclotte exercise bike for the big wheel enthusiast

We can't say we've given much thought to the state of the exercise bike design, but we're definitely digging the Ciclotte concept that was just exhibited in Milan. Details are light, apart from a note that it's almost entirely made of carbon fiber, but hopefully designer Luca Schieppati is working on bringing it -- and that crazy road-faring version on the left -- to market soon. Hit the read link for way more pics.

[Via Minimalismi]

[OZHAMMER @ Apr 29th 2009 6:48PM]

i can't look at this and not think South Park :)

[ack154 @ Apr 29th 2009 6:52PM]

Ya, I saw the pic and instantly thought someone made IT.

[Patrick @ Apr 29th 2009 7:00PM]

Minus the dildo.

[GON @ Apr 29th 2009 7:01PM]

Damn beat me to it.
http://www.idealog.us/entity.jpeg

[askywalker98 @ Apr 29th 2009 6:46PM]

But the road faring version has no handle bars!!!

[Mehdi Cheddadi @ Apr 29th 2009 8:18PM]

most importantly, think about what will happen when you brake....

[Chris @ Apr 30th 2009 12:40AM]

I can ride my bike with no handle bars, no handle bars, no handle bars
Look at me, look at me
hands in the air like it's good to be
ALIVE
and I'm a famous rapper
even when the paths're all crookedy
I can show you how to do-si-do
I can show you how to scratch a record
I can take apart the remote control
And I can almost put it back together
I can tie a knot in a cherry stem
I can tell you about Leif Ericson
I know all the words to "De Colores"
And "I'm Proud to be an American"
Me and my friend saw a platypus
Me and my friend made a comic book
And guess how long it took
I can do anything that I want cuz, look:

Handlebars, by flobots

[Asha @ May 2nd 2009 1:18AM]

It isn't the lack of handlebars that worries me, it is the lack of brakes.

[G @ Apr 30th 2009 3:54AM]

@Asha: i would guess you brake by turning the pedals in reverse like on some older bikes. but i can't imagine how it's possible not to fall over forwards when you do.

[jozef.dobos @ Apr 30th 2009 5:39AM]

yep, should have mounted the small wheel in the front for breaking :)

[Lars @ Apr 30th 2009 2:54PM]

This thing is interesting... old-timey bike meets unicycle.

I had a bike as a kid that applied the brakes when you reverse-pedaled. Who's to say this doesn't have that functionality?

[required @ Apr 29th 2009 6:47PM]

Nice. Needs flames so that my lions and tigers can jump though it.

[Corey P. @ Apr 29th 2009 6:49PM]

I would like to see a video of someone using this.

The tiny stabilizing wheel looks like an after thought. It looks out of place to me for some reason. I really think they could have made that tiny wheel fit better into the design somehow.

[bombastinator @ Apr 29th 2009 9:54PM]

http://images.google.com/images?q=penny+farthing+bicycle&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=UNv4Sb7fMc_5lAe4raW1Cg&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&resnum=4&ct=title

[bombastinator @ Apr 29th 2009 6:52PM]

The only new thing here is that you risk skid burns on your junk when you try to get on and off the thing.

[Llama @ Apr 29th 2009 6:53PM]

That balance wheel looks like it came off of a shopping cart. And I hope to God that I'm not the only one who requires handlebars on their bikes!

Other than that, not bad. The road bike seems a bit unpractical though.

[Asha @ Apr 30th 2009 1:30AM]

Saying that this bike looks a bit impractical is like saying that attacking Russia in the winter is a bit short sighted.

[required @ Apr 29th 2009 7:00PM]

More @ http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2008/08/monowheels-weirdest-transport-known-to.html

[Tohe @ Apr 29th 2009 7:03PM]

You spin me right round, baby
Right round like a record, baby
Right round, round, round

[Stupidiot @ Apr 29th 2009 7:06PM]

Am I misguided in my assumption that any form of personal transport should provide some means of y'know, turning?

[Pete @ Apr 29th 2009 7:10PM]

Most all road cyclists know that the real "meat" of the turn is leaning. Hop on your bike, get some momentum, and just lean in one direction while keeping your handlebars straight. You turn in the direction of the lean. For some nifty countersteering, quickly throw the handlebars in the opposite direction of the lean and see what happens...

[Stupidiot @ Apr 29th 2009 7:15PM]

All I can picture happening, if I lent over on this thing, is toppling over sideways.

[Jorvay @ Apr 29th 2009 8:41PM]

Pete, I'm afraid the lean is only one component of a turn. If you lean and keep the bar straight, you will fall down. The turn of the front wheel may be subtle, but it's what keeps the bike under you when you lean into a turn.
Even on a unicycle, you can't just lean to make a turn. The process on one wheel is to twist the wheel under you while moving forward (or backward) such that the rolling motion will allow the wheel to turn easily, then slowing slightly while you twist your body back in line with the plane of the wheel. The difference in speed between the first twist and second twist results in a net difference in the friction between the tire and the ground, resulting in net angle change. Think of the resistance you feel when turning the steering wheel in a car. When rolling you can easily turn the wheel one full turn in a second, but when idle, that same turn of the wheel would come with much more resistance due to friction between the tire and the ground.

BTW I am basing this on my knowledge as a long-time cyclist (road, cross country, trials, down hill), former bicycle mechanic, and engineer (civil).

[Pete @ Apr 29th 2009 9:45PM]

Jorvay

Oh, no arguing. I just wanted to put across that the lean is a major factor, like it is for turning in several other sports. However, based upon simple physics, on a nonlinear surface, shifting the center of gravity will cause motion in that direction. If you kept everything straight and leaned, then you'd turn, but not a lot before you would have to curve the bars to compensate for the shift in center of gravity.

Oh, and a PSA: Wear your helmets, kids.

[Jorvay @ Apr 30th 2009 9:15AM]

I'll second the helment PSA. I've gone through a couple lids over the years, often in situations where I didn't really expect to need one.

[Crazy J @ Apr 29th 2009 7:08PM]

It would be cool to be able to capture all the energy from all the cycle/eliptical machines in all the gyms around the world.

[required @ Apr 29th 2009 7:21PM]

http://thegreenmicrogym.com/

[allenu @ Apr 30th 2009 5:11PM]

Yup, could provide power to people sitting on the couch watching TV.

[Gerry @ Apr 29th 2009 7:21PM]

How the hell do you stop on this?

Face plant. Thats all you will get from this.

[Slick @ Apr 30th 2009 3:55AM]

You clearly just jump off - no handle bars to impede your escape (from your own demise).

[Asha @ Apr 29th 2009 8:04PM]

As a cyclist, that thing REALLY needs to have pneumatic tires or else it'll be the most uncomfortable ride EVERY. You'd feel every last piece of gravel on the road through your crotch.

Also, I would replace that tiny hard-plastic wheel with a 10" pneumatic tire. It probably wouldn't hurt to have a 6" tire in the front on a spring-loaded arm to make de-accelerating less dangerous.

I honestly think that this strange unicycle is a really bad idea.

[Greg Mcp @ Apr 29th 2009 8:38PM]

It needs a bit of width to it so that you can put a hamster or small dog inside.
Give your pets some exercise while you do.

[darkmax @ Apr 29th 2009 8:44PM]

Where is the brake?!

[dajimmers @ Apr 29th 2009 9:00PM]

Your penis must be under 6 inches in length to ride this ride.

[Kieran @ Apr 29th 2009 9:13PM]

Or maybe you could just not ride naked for once.

[Chris @ Apr 29th 2009 9:57PM]

Nice saddles.

[Ran @ Apr 30th 2009 1:57AM]

Brooks Champion saddle....YAY!!!!
That's about the only good idea on this bike as it pertains to its roadability.
As an exercise bike, it may be fine.

[Slick @ Apr 30th 2009 3:50AM]

Does this qualify as a 'hard tail', or is the pivoting trashcan like real wheel a new category?

[Rick @ Apr 30th 2009 2:06PM]

Being made of carbon fiber adds an extra 400 calories burned!

[bw @ May 1st 2009 12:41AM]

The black one is just wonderful!

[IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII (BarCODE) @ May 1st 2009 1:16PM]

Doesn't engadget mean Penny-farther?

[AoMoe @ May 3rd 2009 7:36AM]

An exercise bike is the same as a stationary bike. The concept behind these bikes are amazing in both design and form factor.

Since these are exercise bike, the wheel most likely stop spinning by the rider slowing down the rotations of their legs. Also, I do remember bikes that would stop by peddling in the reverse direction.