Most bikes make use of two back to back triangles in what’s called a diamond frame to give structure and support to all the myriad elements of a bicycle. This Wire Bike from designer Ionut Predescu instead relies on tensegrity to leverage the tensile strength of Kevlar wire against the compression strength of but two carbon fiber tubes. The end result is a theoretically lighter bicycle where the rider and his seat seems to float against the rest of the bike through the tension of the cables.
Designer: Ionut Predescu
well there is a big problem with this, its going to be loose as a cooked noodle from side to side. The seat post will also rattle in the back fork AND all that tension rigging will be soaking up your power. Remember, often there are reasons things have not been done in the past, so when proposing a new solution ask your self why.
zippyflounder.com
Not to mention a split nut sack if you were to ever slip and straddle this thing.
Engineering problems aside this is a really nice looking bike. And kudos to the designer for exploring new territory -1000x better than that ‘green’ concept bike a few weeks ago.
Sorry, not new. Slingshot Bicycles (slingshotbikes.com) has been doing this for years. Although this design takes the cable concept further. Zippyflounder is right in that its missing some lateral rigidity. I would consider making the seatmast one piece with the main tube to stiffen it up. But of course you would lose your floating suspension element.
i remember the slingshots, intresting but kinda wacky…then again my corsa was even “wackier” its over at http://www.zippyflounder.com look down the page for corsa.
Depending on how we define the concept, it could even be +100 years old: http://www.pedersenbicycles.com
It may create new problems but its a cool idea nonetheless- the side rigidity can be solved easily
Technically, the slingshot bike is not employing tensegrity; it is merely “statically determinant” in one plane, and for one of its triangles. True tensegrity requires that none of the compression elements bear against any other compression member except through connecting tension elements.
http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/dtwitchett6.jpg
Nice find, Miles! The bicycle was such a revolutionary invention that it’s not surprising how much has already been tried with it.
In principle this construction could make changing the seat tube angle possible, not just after the frame is built, but by the end-user. This would probably allow for a more custom fit.
it is an idea for suspension but dangerous if you change the points the cables are connecting to make it new and less dangerous simply move the upper front point to a point on the main beam the cable length will decrease that means less (delta)(L)(Hooke’s law) at same tension you don’t want the seat to move back too much this wont affect the suspension it depends on the lower cables lengths the seat must move perpendicular to ground(on vibrations) not inclined
you may need some sort of damping.
The concept of this carbon fiber bike is really good but sad to say that the suspension is not pleasing to the eye. And it is dangerous too.
The concept of this carbon fiber bike is really good but sad to say that the suspension is not pleasing to the eye. And it is dangerous too.
This is not a 'real bike'. It's a 'Fookin Fixie' dudes.
This is not a 'real bike'. It's a 'Fookin Fixie' dudes.