Bicycles have changed very little over the last century and for good reason – the basic design works pretty much perfectly as it is. However, the team behind the Cyclotron wondered what a bike would look like if it was designed today starting with a completely blank sheet. They set themselves a brief to redefine the concept of ‘motion on two wheels’ while investigating the latest materials and production methods from all vehicle types.
The Cyclotron is radically different from any bicycle that has come before and, thanks to successful crowd-funding campaign, will now go into production.
With more than 15 patents, the Cyclotron bristles with innovation, but these are our favourite features:
Storage
The electric-assist Cyclotron is equipped with hubless wheels, the first time this technology has been commercially available. The radical-looking wheels benefit from built-in LED lights and the absence of spokes makes room for ‘utility slots’ that accept a folding basket. The polygon basket is designed to be perfectly balanced – 12 litres of stowage with a low centre of gravity.
Flexibility
The riding position of the Cyclotron can be altered dramatically. In the way that kids used to swivel their drop handlebars upwards to get a more laid-back riding position, the bike can transform itself from racer to shopping bike.
And with the arrival of little feet, two sidecars can be attached – one either side of the bike.
Speed
Hidden from view, a sequential gearbox means no exposed mechanical components and gear oil changes only once every 6,300 miles. Further benefits include lightening-quick electronic shifts of less than 0.2 seconds and gear shifting at a standstill.
The ethical choice
The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 30 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance , breakdown cover and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.
The Good Shopping Guide judges us to be the UK’s most ethical provider.
bob
Anyone who knows anything about bicycles knows that even if this works the pricing of 1599 euros is ludicrously low. No way is what the inventors are claiming possible at 1599 euros. Major bike manufactures and component makers producing hundreds of thousands of bikes per year and millions of parts would not be able to produce this bike (even if it worked) at anywhere near this price let alone a small company. It appears to be a way to part the gullible from their cash via kickstarter.
ETA
It’s a fair point – there’s a lot of snake oil for sale on crowdfunding sites
John
Here you go again having pictures that flip from one to another in rapid sequence – Why do you persist in using this highly irritating form of presentation? It simply obliterates whatever it is trying to convey!
olga
What is the cost of this cute bike?
And is it possible to buy it anywhere? In the UK?