By Andrew Liszewski

There’s not nearly enough storage space to make this bike useful for an extended road trip, but commuters who are tired of getting to work with a sweaty back thanks to a backpack, or are simply embarrassed about having a basket on their handlebars, should appreciate its design. Integrated into the frame of the bike is a storage compartment that’s perfectly sized for a briefcase, messenger bag or even a laptop bag since it provides considerable more protection than a pannier hanging off the side. And because the compartment is centered in the middle of the bike it also doesn’t hinder your balance when riding, even when fully loaded. It’s available from TATO directly for just over $1,500. (CHF 1,599)

[ TATO Commuter Bike ] VIA [ Cool Material ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Now here’s an idea that’s just so crazy it’s actually brilliant! A company called Brit-Brothers have developed a new kind of seat for racing bikes that uses toothed belts and tapered rollers that rotate when the rider is sitting on them, instead of the traditional padded cushion. The design makes it considerably easier for riders to lean back and forth when navigating tight corners and chicanes during a race, but built-in adjustable friction controls ensure the rider doesn’t just easily slip off the bike.

Not only does the seat make for smoother transitions when leaning from side to side, it also makes it considerably easier on the riders since they’re not continuously lifting their bodies off the bike, which means they’re going to tire less quickly during a long race. Now I’m not sure if the new seat design has much application outside racing, but in a competitive field where seconds count, I’m sure there are plenty of professional racing teams who are ready and willing to adopt the new technology if it provides them with a competitive advantage. And while the images above are obviously just concept renders, in May of last year Brit-Brothers was awarded a patent for their Chicane Saddle seat, and are now working to see it go into production.

[ Brit-Brothers - Evolution of the Chicane Saddle ] VIA [ Gizmag & Asphalt and Rubber ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Let’s be frank here, Erik Lanuza’s Taurus concept, an electric-powered self-balancing motorcycle with a slightly different wheel configuration, is basically a modified Segway. But since you straddle the Taurus like you would a racing bike, instead of awkwardly standing and leaning, he’s managed to make riding the Taurus look about 1,000 times cooler than riding a Segway. And even though it’s just a concept design, I can’t imagine it would be that difficult to modify the Segway to operate like this. So instead of an awkward personal transporter, they’d have the slick Vespa for the 21st century on their hands.

[ AtCrux - Taurus – Safe and zero emission urban transportation concept ] VIA [ Jalopnik ]

By Andrew Liszewski

You might think $600 is a lot to spend on a case designed to protect and transport only a single bike, but keep in mind that we’ve reported on professional racing bikes that can cost as much as $42,000, so spending $600 to protect one doesn’t actually seem so crazy.

The Helium bike case’s unique design allows it to be opened 360° making packing your bike’s frame (it’s compatible with road bikes up to 64cm size or a full-suspension freeride mountain bike), 2 sets of wheels and other accessories like a helmet, shoes, and pump particularly painless, and when empty it can be collapsed small enough to stow in the trunk of a car. But the most unique feature is a set of inflatable partitions positioned on either side of the frame which not only increases the protection of the various bike components packed inside, but the increased rigidity makes the whole thing easier to transport.

[ Biknd Helium Bike Case ] VIA [ The Red Ferret Journal ]

By Andrew Liszewski

You’re definitely going to turn some heads if you pull into a dock with a 92-foot yacht, but having a 4-seat airplane on deck will easily make you the envy of every captain in the harbor. Of course you’ll have to pay about $6 million for the privilege, but I’d say it’s totally worth it.

The duo was recently spotted and photographed at the Miami Yacht and Brokerage Show, and the folding-wing Glasair Sportsman float plane on board can apparently carry two adults, plus 300 pounds of cargo, up to 600 miles, making for some impressive day trips. And in case you were wondering how the plane is loaded/unloaded, a small crane is visible just behind the aircraft in both shots.

[ JustLuxe - $6-Million Argos Yacht with Plane on Deck ] VIA [ Born Rich ]

By David Ponce

Sad we don’t have any build information, as Corbin Dunn, the apparent designer, managed to delete the post with all of that. Still, you got this wonderful picture and tons of ideas of the sorts of shenanigans you might get into should you and anyone else try to ride this.

Do it drunk.

I mean that.

[ Corbin's Treehouse ] VIA [ LikeCool ]

By David Ponce

After posting news of the Enicycle a few days ago, here comes another personal transportation device that purports to solve the issue of urban mobility. It’s called the YikeBike and is essentially a folding electric bicycle with a design reminiscent of the high wheelers of old (also known as Penny-Farthings). It’s powered by a 1 kW battery and can accelerate up to 20 kph (about 12 mph) with a range of 7 to 8 km (or about 5 miles) on a 30 minute charge. Made from carbon fiber, it weighs in just under 22lbs and with practice can be folded up and stashed in a bag in about 15 seconds.

There are working pre-production models and the first 100 orders should be delivered in “early to mid 2010″. But at €3,500-€3,900 (~ $5,500), you might as well get a Segway.

Hit the jump for a few videos of the YikeBike in action and a gallery.

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By David Ponce

Or on top of, rather. The EniCycle is an a prototype self-stabilizing unicycle from Slovenian inventor Aleksander Polutnik. Featuring a three-hour battery, gyroscope and a spring damper, Polutnik claims a 30 minute learning curve. The video we’ve embedded after the jump shows UK “The Gadget Show” Ortiz Deley learning to ride the device. Within a few minutes he’s not falling off and actually steering.

Looks like some kind of fun, but sadly this isn’t a production device unless (like so many things) Polutnik finds some funding to market it. There are currently only two models he built himself.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Andrew Liszewski

I have my doubts the Shweeb will become the defacto standard for transportation in crowded cities, but as an alternative to cars and even bikes, it does have some merit. Each capsule holds a single rider who has to pedal in order to get from point A to point B, and besides the whole eco-friendly aspect of not relying on a motor or electricity, the Shweeb is actually faster than a bike. And since you’re suspended from a rail on a set path, you’re free to make phone calls or check your email without the worry of having an accident.

In a practical sense, setting up a network of rails to accommodate single riders all going to different places is a logistical nightmare, which is why the Shweeb only exists as an amusement park ride at the Agroventures Adventure Park in Rotorua, New Zealand. And if you happen to find yourself in their neighborhood while visiting your Kiwi pals, a 3-lap ride around their course will set you back about US $30.

[ The Shweeb ] VIA [ TreeHugger ]