Oh! Gizmo

By Andrew Liszewski

Simply called ‘The Ride’ this retro styled bicycle actually has an advanced transmission that most riders would drool over. The ‘NuVinci’ transmission uses a ball bearing and metal disc system that can mimic an infinite number of gears and it got its name because it was inspired by a 1490’s sketch made by Leonardo da Vinci himself. Basically, the NuVinci allows the rider to dial in the perfect gear ratio, rather than being limited to just 21 with a standard chain-driven transmission. Here’s how it works:

Twist a dial on the handlebar, and ball bearings in the bike’s NuVinci transmission tilt between two rotating metal discs. (Your pedaling turns one disc; the other transfers power to the rear wheel.) As the balls tilt, they touch the discs at varying angles. This changes how fast the wheel spins relative to your pedaling—slowly for low gear ratios, where pedaling is easy but the wheel doesn’t turn much, and quickly for high ratios. The balls can roll to almost any angle, giving you precise control over the bike’s torque (and your exertion).

‘The Ride’ is currently available in two versions from Ellsworth Handcrafted Bicycles. The standard version sells for $2,995 while a Signature Series is $3,995.

[ Ellsworth 'The Ride' ] VIA [ Popular Science ]