Ideas for bike design, smooth commuter

[eddief]

http://vimeo.com/6255436

Shall we move beyond the beauty of Terraplane? To something more floaty?

Video and words borrowed from the beautiful Ecovelo blog:

The Dutchess is a concept bike designed for Cannondale by Wytze van Mansum, a student at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. Features include an enclosed drivetrain and brakes, folding handlebars, internally routed cables and wiring, and folding levers that act as wheel locks. Both fenders are integrated into the frame, with the rear acting as a structural member. At this point the bike is purely conceptual, though Cannondale claims some of the technology may be used in future production models.

[veggieburger]

Love it!

The folding/locking handlebars are a really clever idea...

[rwsaunders]

Slick....

[eddief]

how'd he get a belt or chain or driveshaft in that skinny slot?

[jvp]

her bag of produce disappeared.

[bumperjohn]

Very smooth lines.

[fourflys]

anyone notice there were brake levers, but no cables? :)

Good looking bike!

[SEABREEZE]

Slick....

Slcker than Slick


Proooops go out to the young designer.

[rudetay]

anyone notice there were brake levers, but no cables? :)

Good looking bike!

Looks like maybe hub brakes? Given, the levers don't look like they actuate anything, maybe it's still in the concept stage?

[csm]

I'd buy something like that.

[MattTuck]

would be better with mavic open pros laced to a DT hubs. j/k


very cool idea. nice that you don't need to worry about a chain ruining your pants.

[hokoman]

wow - i think that is probably the most impressive bike design i've seen in a long time. i would totally ride that (i don't care if it's a women's bike!)!

[erikbrooks]

Looks like maybe hub brakes? Given, the levers don't look like they actuate anything, maybe it's still in the concept stage?

Does look really slick and nice. I like the swoopy look of the tubes that kick up to attach the fender.

But I think that the most of the 'niceness' comes from the total lack of cables, wires, and chains. I think that much of the visual appeal of fixies and SS bikes comes from that.

[David Kirk]

I just love clean, clever design.

Nicely done.

dave

[uno-speedo]

i quote my friend.

The lines inside the frame and handlebars for hydro brakes are there, but sadly he hasn't had time to fix up decent levers. The hubs feature modified rollerbrakes that are actuated by means of a self-made hydro cilinder just above the hub inside the fork leg.