Glider inspired downhill bicycle, designed and built by Jeff Tiedeken, can reach speeds of more than 60 mph (100 km/h).
Gravity powered bike with custom made frame has no chain or pedals.
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Lilia Smiles
Isn’t this kind the same thing as a regular bike except it’s kind of useless? Probably won’t go too far on flat ground.
Jul 22nd, 2012
John
Its based on a regular bike but its not useless, could you cycle up to 60mph?… and it wasn’t designed for basic or commercial ground use as it doesn’t have any gears, chains etc. Thought the title’ Gravity Bike’ would give you an idea of what its designed for…
I personally love this design, follows leans manufacturing and it looks great for a prototype, however I would hate to have my hands near that wheel when its reached higher then 30mph :/
Jul 22nd, 2012
Pearl Lamie
i’d like it better if someone designed a regular bike so you could flip off the gears/chain for downhill. Now THAT would be elegant!
Jul 22nd, 2012
Kochtopf
Does it have beaks? if not that would be one HELL of a hazard going downhill (cars and what not)
Jul 22nd, 2012
chillaroo
if you stop pedaling on a reagular bike you have a gravity bike
Jul 22nd, 2012
Douglas
Like the picture of the lean going into the turn. Some big ones there!!!
Jul 22nd, 2012
John
Pearl Lamie, if it could change into that idea then it won’t be as fast as it would normally be, idea of a gravity bike is too be as light as possible and to gain as much speed. I think people are missing the point here, its a gravity bike for downhill use, no breaks or gears or chains. Purely for speed and light weight use.
Jul 22nd, 2012
Truly Spokin
This is nothing new. GPV bike were done back in the 80’s on 20″ wheels. Converted bmx bikes mostly. But I believe Hutch sold a production model.
Jul 22nd, 2012
Tom
John, this thing does have brakes. It looks a lot like my racing bike i just to have when i was a kid.
With a normal racing bike it’s pretty easy to reach 60km/h downhill.
Probable fun to build, pretty useless compared to a normal bike.
Jul 22nd, 2012
Fillibert
cafe racer of bikes
Jul 23rd, 2012
John
Tom, haha sorry I didn’t notice the breaks, normally they don’t have breaks but for safety reasons for this one :D
Jul 23rd, 2012
Enrico Martinez
Baguio, Philippines has already Gravity Bikes, and made entirely of wood.
The indigenous tribes has made their wooden gravity bikes (WGB) as a mode of transportation and hauling marketable goods from highland to the lowlands.
Many WGB has carved images of lion heads and other ethnic designs, some of which are sold to foreigners.
Jul 23rd, 2012
Biff
If you take away the chain & pedals why not ditch the brakes too? That WOULD be simple elegance… If it is gravity based then making the rider wear thick soled shoes to stop would be no less inconvenient than requiring a gravity based route.
Jul 23rd, 2012
Gert
The people that think it shouldn’t have breaks have never tasted pavement from nailing a seemingly small bump.
Jul 25th, 2012
Edward Martinez
For added protection;
Wear the Dark Knight Motorcycle Suit
While using this Gravity Bike.
Jul 27th, 2012
Ian Stone
I used to race USCF cycling in the 1980s….with a 19 lb finely tuned road racing bike and in an aerodynamic position, you would easily see speeds up to 55-65 mph on mountain descents. I think the fastest I’ve gone is 68mph in a race. Pretty damn scary as I recall.
So, while I think this design is super cool…and would be a great experimental toy and I applaud the designer….physics is physics: Newton’s second law applies. A 10 lb bowling ball rolls down the same hill at the exact same speed as a same size 30 lb ball of greater mass.
Mass doesn’t determine the speed of a falling (or rolling) object. Drag and friction does.
Nov 3rd, 2012
stephen
I was wondering if the posture during the ride hurts your back (or anything else)? Also, does this bike only work going downhill? What happens when you come across an uphill, do you just walk it up?
Dec 4th, 2013