Trek Bicycle is on the cutting edge of a movement to bury the finger-pinching, pants-munching, rust-prone sprocket and chain, and usher in a new era of belt-driven bikes. (Nov. 18)
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This automatic IVT for a bicycle features unlimited ratios, selected by crank torque.
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The third prototype is noisy and we need to work on the gearing but it did move under pedal power. This video was uploaded from an Android phone.
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Lunartic is a Loughborough University Design and Technology final year project by Luke Douglas.
The aim was to use a hubless wheel to create a compact bicycle, with the benefits of a large wheel and belt drive.
Hubless wheels have appeared in bicycle concepts already, and were first invented by Sbarro. However, few concepts have made it to prototype and when only used for aesthetic purposes, the disadvantage of extra cost out weights the visual gain. Lunartic uses the hubless for a reason; to house the working parts, reducing the wheel base but not sacrificing conventional riding geometry.
Lunartic is supposed to be as compact as possible without folding or being awkward to ride, however there is the potential for the front wheel to fold up into the rear or for that space to be used for a laptop back, motor or dynamo.
This first prototype proves the unique theory behind the design but will require further development before being ready for mass manufacture.
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The versatile Orbitwheel skates (http://www.orbitwheel.com ) can be used for sharp turns and pivots as well as long stretches. It even works off-road!
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