The trend of folding bicycles is
growing, due to urbanization, high density of people inside cities and the wheel
to reduce pollution (yes, it is a pun). There are many types of foldingbicycles but they all have one thing in
common: the wheels are not folding. If you look at pictures of folding bikes
you'd notice one of two things: either the wheel dominates the size of the
folded bikes, such that you see a large circle with some bars and hinges
attached to it; or the bike's wheels are very small, reduced in size exactly
because of this problem.
On the other hand, wheelchairs have
progressed much more due to the large demand and the subsidized market. In this
unique apparatus, the concept of folding wheels is now possible, with several
competitors out there.
Why not combine the two? Why not
enjoy the world of folding bikes as well as folding wheels, to reduce even
further the size and complexity of the bikes to a minimum? This can be done,
while still enjoying the benefits of a large wheel.
And while we're contemplating "revolutionary"
ideas on folding and bikes, why not do it an automatic unfolding and folding?
The idea of inserting some kind of engine into the design to supply the power
for the transformation is prohibitive, since then the bike will need battery,
and the complexity and weight will dramatically increase. However, there are
other possibilities. One can be taken from the simple idea of a folded springy
ring, that are ubiquitous in IKEA children toys. Is there a possibility to construct a
formidable bike from springy materials that can then carry the weight of a
person on them?
The design of new materials is reaching a turning point where
flexibility and hardness can transformed with a turn of a switch Maybe using such materials and concepts from folded
wheelchair's wheels one can created a truly and wholly folded bicycle that can
be carried in your purse.
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