Many people have been watching the technological advances coming to cars this year, with electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids finally becoming a reality. But there are plenty of high-tech changes coming to bicycles too. While the aluminum frame is staying the same, MIT, Cannondale, Sanyo and others are working to change just about everything else.
Very little has changed about the bike since its introduction in the nineteenth century. Until about the middle of last year, special features included full suspension, hydraulic disc brakes and carbon fiber. Now riders have a new range of options to make their riding experiences more enjoyable. Here is a review of some of this technology and why every bike enthusiast should now about it.
The Copenhagen Wheel — Introduced by several students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology during the U.N.’s climate talks in Copenhagen in December, the wheel is designed to take some of the cardio out of bike riding. Pictured here in a single-speed frame, the red hub contains an electric motor, battery and computer. As a cyclist pedals and brakes, more and more power is stored in the battery. That way when he or she heads up hills, the electric motor senses the strenuous effort involved and gives the bike a boost. When it’s officially released, the Copenhagen Wheel could be installed in any bike at any bike shop. Most electric bikes are heavy, ugly and not very practical to pedal. The Copenhagen takes your existing bike and elegantly adds a bit more brawn.
The Sanyo Eneloop — This model made a splash at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show. While electric bikes aren’t exactly new, Sanyo is working to give them more crowd appeal. The Eneloop line integrates Sanyo suspension forks, its easily recognized frame and carbon fiber construction. Pedals drive the back wheel while a hub on the front wheel houses a motor. Between its all-wheel drive, electric propulsion and light-weight frame, the bike has a bit more zip than its predecessors.
Cannondale Simon — Pictured as part of a whole bike here, the Simon technology is located in the front suspension. While traditional suspension forks use hydraulics and a coil spring or an air shock to control damping forces, this little gizmo uses an accelerometer — a computer and piezo-electric valving to fine-tune your suspension in real time. This means you can hit pot holes, curbs, speed bumps and rough terrain with impunity. It’s not on the market yet, but is coming soon.
All of these innovations are part of a broader trend toward bikes becoming a more practical option for commuters. In the years to come, bikes will have even smarter suspension systems that take the guesswork out of tuning, and streamlined electric motors that can make riding bicycles enjoyable (and not too strenuous) for the average person.
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