What the hell is this?

[Pappa Bear]

Late night surfing got me to these strange pics....... Anybody knows what this is and how it works?

[Pure Savage]

Link?

[Pappa Bear]

No idea..... Just saved to my Ipad and only recently found them in my library again....

[funjunkie]

[funjunkie]

http://www.stringbike.com/bikes/bikes-cross/

[GaryvdM]

http://www.stringbike.com/

 

http://phys.org/news204349619.html

[Pappa Bear]

Thanks guys. Interesting...... Nots sure if the chain on a bicycle will soon be replaced.

[Mads]

Thanks guys. Interesting...... Nots sure if the chain on a bicycle will soon be replaced.

 

Have to agree. That stringy thing is ugly.

 

It reminds of the equipment they used to read the stars to navigate in the 1800"s

Edited October 26, 2013 by Mads

[GaryvdM]

Very interesting. Lots of pros. I like the idea.

 

Some concerns I have about the design:

• The cable outers for the gear selectors are constantly moving. How long will they last, and how much energy loss dose this cause?
  
• What free wheel ratchets are they using. I would think they need to be very fine, otherwise it will not be a smooth transmission.
  
• How wide apart are the pedals compared to traditional chain & sprocket designs?
  

[Capricorn]

errrm, looks like they took a train, and added a saddle. seriously reminds me of the reciprocating motion of old steam trains, and just about any piston engine for that matter. Very cool!

[DJR]

It's an engineering students' wet dream

[fabs]

practical purpose - zero.

twice as many components than necessary.

Why eliminate a chain with power transmission close to 100%

to substitute with elastic, that will have huge losses ???

[YUMEYA]

Late night surfing got me to these strange pics....... Anybody knows what this is and how it works?

 

Complicated

[Corvus]

I prefer the hydrostatic drive

[Zeffer]

Bit like wave technology, similar to the way you harness the power from ocean waves.

[GaryvdM]

twice as many components than necessary.

Complicated

 

It's not nearly as complicated as derailers.

 

Why eliminate a chain with power transmission close to 100%

to substitute with elastic, that will have huge losses ???

 

Chains requires lots of maintenance. They are not using an elastic, else it would be called the elastic bike. It uses a very inelastic string.