- $399 bicycle is steered by leaning while holding a centralcolumn
- Has one large wheel and two small stabilisers
- Described as a cross between running and cycling
It claims to be able to combine running and cycling – and be the ultimate urban transport.
The bizarre halfbike has one large wheel, and is steered by a stick while the rider stands.
It’s inventors claim it is small enough to carry around when not in use, and could replace the gym for many – as well as giving commuters a better view of traffic.
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The halfbike combines running and cycling – and its inventors claim is small enough to carry on public transport.
The firm originally raised money for a prototype version on Kickstarter – and now says it is ready to sell its second version.
‘We took the core driving mechanism of a classical bicycle (a wheel connected to a crankset) but redesigned pretty much everything else,’ the Arizona firm said.
‘The result – a vehicle that trains your balance and reflexes in a new way.’
The standing rider position is essential for the Halfbike, the firm says.
‘It brings you closer to natural walking and it’s the only way to control the vehicle with your whole body and not just your hands.
‘Halfbike is a sort of an extension to the body that allows a smooth and intuitive ride.
‘Riding a Halfbike gives you a different perspective to the city.’
The firm says it hopes the $399 gadget will be ridden alongside bikes.
‘We’re in no way trying to convince you that a Halfbike is better than a bicycle nor that you should get one and throw away your trusty old bike.
‘The two are so different that they’re actually hard to compare.
‘The feeling of riding a Halfbike is really nothing like riding a bicycle.’
Martin Angelov, the inventor, say he was inspired by wanting to simplify the bike.
Kolelinia is founded by Martin Angelov and Mihail Klenov – two architects sharing a vision about urban mobility and how it can be applied to the contemporary city.
‘I started sketching different concepts for a simplified bike and soon reached a point where I needed to test these concepts in real life.
‘For some of the early prototypes I used old bicycles and parts I found at the attic.
‘I was amazed how well people reacted to the idea and that made me want to keep up.
Halfbike is suitable for commuting short distances and small enough to take onboard public transport for longer trips.
To steer the halfbike the rider simply holds onto the central pole and leans in the direction they want to go.
‘Along the process other people were drawn into the project creating a small team.
‘After further development and experiments with various rider positions followed by even more prototypes, the desired level of control was finally achieved.
‘What we have now is a patent pending new type of personal vehicle ready for the market.
The unusual design allows the ride to stand up, giving them a better view over traffic
‘Halfbike is compact enough for an elevator, light enough to carry it on stairs and fits into spaces too small for a normal bike,’ the firm claims.
‘Riding it mimics low impact style running and is great for “bike-jogging”. The joy of riding it can give you motivation to go out and have some fun.‘
