Saturday, January 14, 2012

ElliptiGO - The Seatless Bike

By Tommy Jaenkins


The ElliptiGO, a seatless bike that emulates running, will probably be launched at the start of 2010 after several years in development.

Rather than pedals, the ElliptiGO has 2 platforms on what you stand and press to deliver the drive towards the crank.

Its originator, Bryan Pate, developed the concept after losing to be able to run to keep fit through hip and knee injuries. He planned to keep on exercising but found the riding position with a conventional bike awkward and didn?t need to be restricted to gym-style, stationary elliptical fitness machines.

Specification includes Shimano Alfine 8-speed gearing, aluminium frame and graphite cranks. Claimed weight is 37 pounds (less than 17kg), and will also retail at US$1,999.

It isn't just geared towards runners seeking a 'low-impact' alternative though - Pate told BikeRadar how the reaction from cyclists was a lot more enthusiastic than expected: "We are positioning the ElliptiGO to attract general fitness enthusiasts and especially current or former runners. Our initial data were that hardcore bike riders may not be interested."

"My co-founder (Brent Teal) and i also are both former Ironman triathletes, so we've spent 1000s of miles in the saddle on both road and tri bikes along with done a large amount of biking. We belief that cyclists would treat an ElliptiGO rider like they do a recumbent-rider - either ignore him or create a snide comment. To our surprise, many cyclists are actually really receptive to the idea. We've found out that greater difficult the ride/event we have been on, the greater supportive cyclists are. When it comes to our customers, so far about 50 % of describe themselves as 'general fitness enthusiasts', of a quarter describe themselves as runners and also the other quarter as cyclists."

Pate stressed what he felt were the benefits of the ElliptiGO after completing the event: "Other cyclists understand the height and width of the bike cheap there's no seat plus they conclude who's have to be a lot more tough to climb on than their 16-pound Roubaix or Madone. The reality is, the ElliptiGO is heavy, however it climbs rather well and the lack of a seat means that 6 or 7 hours in to the ride our body is still really comfortable and painless. At the end of the ride we were significantly less 'beat up' compared to a conventional cyclist is and way better off than someone that went running for very long enough to find the same exercise benefits."

This individual also sees widespread commuter / urban appeal for your seatless machine, after they can reduce the retail price, stressing three major advantages over conventional bikes:

The rider is much better capable of observe his surroundings because his distinctive line of sight is actually never blocked by cars or other objects. As an effect, he or she is more likely to visit a potential risk earlier and so have an overabundance time and energy to cure it. This supplies this kind of improved feeling of security on urban roads for the reason that rider feels more in control of his area and more empowered. Plus, there are few much better feelings than looking upon the trucker of your Hummer when pulling to a stoplight.

The upright riding position also helps make the rider a lot more visible to motorists, cyclists and pedestrians, making it not as likely that they'll hit him. Because of the configuration of the pedaling system and deficiency of a seat, the ElliptiGO is way better for those wearing non-cycling attire. The lack of a seats means that there is no wet seat to sit on and yes it implies that women can wear skirts or dresses without having them get all bunched up or exposing by themselves to everyone. We didn't realise that has been a difficulty, but we've had dozens of women mention it. Also, since the chain no longer has sufficient the way in which and there is no structural member higher than the plane of the pedaling motion, there's nothing there to soil suits or jeans.




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