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Bike 2.0

How high-tech do we need to go? What problems do we have as bicyclists that can/could be fixed with high-tech solutions?

MIT is working on a kinetic wheel that captures energy from braking and then allows the rider to apply it to accelerating.

This solves no problem for me. Does it solve a problem for you?

One thing does interest me: This idea that high-tech might wean urbanites off their cars.

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Comments 6

  1. MamaVee wrote:

    I personally would love it. Depending on how it looked and how heavy it was. I can use all the help possible. It’s unclear – can you use energy for more than just an accelerating boost? That would be rad.

    Posted 15 Dec 2009 at 11:19 am
  2. Andy Cline wrote:

    MamaVee… It may be that there’s something to this urban-tech nexus. Yes, the article is not quite clear about how it might be used. I *assumed* acceleration because that’s what seems to me most useful given the description.

    Posted 15 Dec 2009 at 12:29 pm
  3. Mighk wrote:

    I could see the benefit in a hilly urban/suburban environment. It’d be nicer if it had more than three speeds in the hub.

    As for all the smartphone-related stuff, I can live without that. You learn much more about your environment by experiencing it than by reading about it on-line. That stuff just brings the motorist mindset of instant gratification into cycling; not something I’d call an improvement.

    Posted 15 Dec 2009 at 2:10 pm
  4. Andy Cline wrote:

    Mighk… Not to mention distracting. And I heartily agree re: motorist mindset. Getting away from that is a BIG reason I’ve been able to sustain and expand using my bicycle as basic transportation. Who knew it was such a great benefit ;-)

    Posted 15 Dec 2009 at 2:24 pm
  5. brad wrote:

    Found some pics and video footage: http://web.mit.edu/press/2009/copenhagen-wheel.html

    I think it’s an interesting idea, if nothing else. I wouldn’t need it, but I’m sure some people would welcome a bit of assistance, and if it helped get people out of their cars and onto bikes I don’t see any downfalls w/ new technology like this.

    Posted 15 Dec 2009 at 2:36 pm
  6. Matt L. wrote:

    Obviously it helps in a hilly geography. I would NOT want a wheel that does social networking, though.

    Posted 15 Dec 2009 at 2:54 pm