Esquisse 3 - Alternate Materials

This esquisse looks at research into new and innovative materials that would have merit if applied to the design of the bike sharing system for Melbourne. They would improve not only the product quality of the system, but also provide support to manufacturing operations.

Reclining bike anyone?

Here's a cool bike design idea: a variable frame that adjusts into different modes for seamless, sustained riding. For the city, you've got your standard upright mode--but once you're clear of the urban zone, recline into country mode and pedal on with ease. More pics and mock-up video after the jump.

The bike is up, then the bike is down. You sit on the bike upright in the city, then set it down to cruise in the suburbs. It’s intuitive. It’s wild. It’s a thesis project. It’s got a video to go with it. It’s already mocked up. The final version will have a battery and hubmotor for a little kick in the pants. Environmentally friendly city and country transportation in one bike.

The bike is up, then the bike is down. You sit on the bike upright in the city, then set it down to cruise in the suburbs. It’s intuitive. It’s wild. It’s a thesis project. It’s got a video to go with it. It’s already mocked up. The final version will have a battery and hubmotor for a little kick in the pants. Environmentally friendly city and country transportation in one bike.

This is the proof of concept mockup for a commuter bike with variable frame as part of the diploma thesis of the product-designers daniel knüpfer and stefan wallmann at anhalt university, dessau in mai 2008. In the concept, the frame can be locked by a lever on the handlebar, that feature is missing in the mockup. Also, the springs that help bringing the rider in an upright position need to be adjusted to the riders weight to balance the frame (making it possible to switch positions while leaning back or forth). these springs are too weak in this prototype, therefore the riders in the video need to push the backrest a little bit. only a very lightweight rider managed to bring himself up by simply leaning forward.

ubicycle - Public Bicycle Service System

The Ubicycle service is composed of three primary elements. First, is an easy access key card that can be charged with funds for any kind of public transportation, including trains and buses. Smart chips not only identify the user of the bike, but also allows unlocking of the rack and bicycle.

1. The cards will employ RFID technology, adding greater convenience by speeding up checkout and authentication processes.

2. The modular racking station allows easy installation and efficient use of space. 14 bicycles racked on these stations occupy the same amount of space as a parking space for one car.

3. Solar power will help run these stations on a day-to-day basis, providing energy for the key reader and locking mechanisms.

Esquisse 2 - Shared Rides

What is Melbourne's Vernacular??

Word association matrix on various themes and qualities obtained after watching 'this is melbourne' videos. Used to help grasp a better understanding of the vernacular of Melb.

Conducted by Ben Carlos, Matthew Clark and Carla Zampaglione.

That Yellow Bike Survived a Train Hit

Maybe. You never know. It’s called the “24/7 City Pedelec” and it’s hard as Wolverine. It’s components are made for daily heavy use and “permanently changing users.” Customized for long life, low maintenance, and usability. What’s that mean, really? I can use it good. Real good. Anyway, it’s compact frame structure guards against vandalism (not paint, but bashing,) and wearing out from stuff like nature. No dangly bits stick out. Yellow much?
The insides are all new. Technology, and stuff. Check it out: chains, shifting gears, and breaks are replaced with these crazy components: cardan drive, centrifugal gear unit, and hydraulic breaks.

And oh wow, check it out also: modular. The modular frame structure allows for upgrades. Start with the basic model, upgrade to better parts one-by-one. You’ll be hanging out with those fixed-gear clown-shoes in no time!

Designer: Philipp Guenther

[Article:Yanko Design]

Sporty Bike

I told you there was this bike conspiracy going on amongst the designers, add the Furious Sports Bike to the list. Dishy in its current avatar; the bike boasts of an aerodynamic design coupled with user-friendly ergonomics. What I really like is the ample display nestled between the handlebars. You get details like the route-map, current bike gear, temperature, time and speed displayed on it. The seat however looks tad uncomfy for me.

Designer: Nenad Kostadinov

[Article: Yanko Design]

Zoom Stop Fold Unfold Go Zoom!

So you’ve got to go in and out of a bunch of places today, all around teh town, and you know you’re not gonna be able to find a bike rack every time. But you gotta bike! So whatcha gon do? You gon get you a folding bike – and since you’re way into the color orange and fantastically innovative folding bike design, you set your eyeballs square upon the prize: the “Zoomla!”

HAY that does not appear to be a conventional bike. That’s RIGHT that’s because it’s not. It’s the Zoomla. It’s just so classy. The fold is a single-pivot. That’s it!
But wait, how do I turn, it doesn’t look like the handle turns the front wheel! – Oh but it does! This bike incorporates a system called TorqSteer, eliminating that whole messy steering tube ordeal. Then wait, what the cuss?! There’s no pedals! -Oh but there ARE pedals. Those two orange pedals right there are pedals, known here as the Pedaldeck. This bike uses an internal drive system rather than the usual crank and pedals.

And down there, in the pics, what’s that turtleshell there? Oh that, that’s a freaking backpack! It’s optional and attaches just below the seat for fashion fabulousness.

Designer: Eric Stoddard of SpeedStudio Design

[Article: Yanko Design]

B-Cycle System - US

Interesting bike share system in the states.



[Source:YouTube]

A New Way to Bike

That cushy padded seat on your bike is a fitness hinderance, preventing the toned legs Lance Armstrong would envy, and keeping your back unnaturally aligned. The TAURUS bike eschews the seat for a unique cab forward design. Designed specifically for children, you stand leaning forward enabling correct posture while making the largest muscles in your body work harder. The pedaling action is more akin to stair stepping. You’ll be fit and tone in no time.

In the back wheel hub of the bike, there are six condensers that store energy created from pedaling. This energy can be called upon when needed. There’s a display describing the relationship between the amount of energy created and stored. This provides the child with real time data encouraging them to pedal harder. To assure ease of transport within a car, the steering wheel and wheels themselves can be removed.

Okay, Julia Meyer – please design one for adults too. I need this. DO WANT!

Designer: Julia Meyer

[Article: Yanko Design]

Bicycle Parking, Long Term

Sometimes “long term parking” is another way of saying “your bike got jacked” – not this time though, this is a much better deal. It’s a bike rack concept, but better than that, it’s a long term bike rack, including safe storage, WC, showers, and lounge. This is precisely what a city like Minneapolis is starving for.

I currently live in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and I can say without hesitation that this is a bike town. It’s a big city, one of two within miles of eachother, (we’re called the “Twin Cities,” perhaps you’ve heard of us,) full of bikes. Having stations like this instead of congested rails alongside coffee shops stunk up with the sweat of long-run armpits, well, that’d be great!

Especially between outlying areas and the big city center.

Read below for a little bit more info and ask questions! The designer of this project, Yinnon Lehrer, is watching, and I bet answers would be given upon request.

Designer: Yinnon Lehrer

[Article: Yanko Design]

Advanced Carbon Fiber Electric Bike

Carbon fibre like you've never seen before.

Thinking caps on because this takes some imagination to digest. The HMK 561 is a carbon fiber bike with special electrical properties that hold power right inside the frame. Carbon fiber is highly conductive so the designer uses it as a power distribution network instead of wires. The power drives the lights and the motors in between the rims but get this… there’s regenerative braking. All that energy drives a system that turns the wheels using a counter-turning axel in lieu of gears and chains. Far fetched? No, because there’s already a prototype.

[Article: Yanko Design]

This is Melbourne - Esquisse 1