Kiwis seem to be a creative and inventive bunch. Today I’ve come across two examples related to cycling.
The YikeBike is a new kind of bike called a mini-farthing:
We started with a blank sheet of paper and addressed the needs of urban commuting: light-weight for carrying; compact and clean for carrying and storage; decent size front wheel for bumps and curbs; better visibility through upright riding position; shorter wheel base for better manoeuvrability and electric drive to prevent working up a sweat.
We also addressed a number of safety issues such as: shorter stopping distance (the YikeBike has anti-skid brakes), tighter cornering for emergencies, better acceleration, a limited top speed of 20kph and a riding position that is upright and unencumbered by handle bars in the event of an emergency stop or accident. …
It is designed and currently assembled in New Zealand.
Sounds and looks really interesting, but some excavation of the website revealed a price that is well beyond my budget.
Bike racks
Carrying stuff on a bike is always a problem. I have a rack on my bike and a small bag that locks into it. The small bag was exactly what I intended to buy, but I’ve found it’s not big enough for my usual needs.
Today I discovered the Freeload rack, that sounds very interesting:
Freeload is the world’s first fully adjustable bicycle carrier rack that can be fitted to the front or rear of all types of bicycles, including full-suspension mountain bikes. This innovation is a major breakthrough for load-carrying on mountain bikes, especially in off-road touring situations.
Designed and developed in New Zealand, home to some of the most challenging and beautiful off-road touring destinations, the Freeload system provides you with a truly flexible platform for adventure.
Freeload lets you remove the load from your back and mount it directly to your bike, giving you more freedom to enjoy the ride.
[Via : Your Platform For Adventure.]
The price is reasonable — buy one before 1 November 2009 to receive a 25% discount off the standard price.
I had to ferret around the website a bit, but the rack seems to include bungees for attaching your gear to the rack.
I think I see one of these in my future …
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
http://jeffsbike.blogspot.com/2010/01/freeload-bike-rack.html
Thanks for that link, El jefe. I’ve received my Freeload bike rack but haven’t had time yet to assemble it. Your post should be very handy.