Stringbike? Interesting . . . - The Chainlink2024-03-29T11:10:57Zhttps://thechainlink.org/forum/topics/stringbike-interesting?commentId=2211490%3AComment%3A747771&x=1&feed=yes&xn_auth=noThis is a little different
E…tag:thechainlink.org,2013-08-30:2211490:Comment:7495742013-08-30T13:24:49.534ZAce Mannhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/AceMann
This is a little different<br />
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Earlier this year, we heard about a proposed arm- and leg-powered bicycle known as the 4StrikeBike. At the time, we knew that if it were to reach production, it would be facing some competition from the existing Raxibo Hand-Tret-Velo. Now, it turns out that another arm-and-legger has also recently hit the market – it’s time to meet the Varibike.<br></br>
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As with the other two bikes, the Varibike features both a traditional leg-powered drivetrain, and…
This is a little different<br />
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Earlier this year, we heard about a proposed arm- and leg-powered bicycle known as the 4StrikeBike. At the time, we knew that if it were to reach production, it would be facing some competition from the existing Raxibo Hand-Tret-Velo. Now, it turns out that another arm-and-legger has also recently hit the market – it’s time to meet the Varibike.<br/>
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View all<br/>
As with the other two bikes, the Varibike features both a traditional leg-powered drivetrain, and a handlebar stem-mounted set of cranks that the rider turns with their arms. That arm power is transmitted from those cranks down to the main drivetrain via a rubber-sheathed chain drive. This setup allows the rider to cruise along using leg power only, arm power only, or a combination of both.<br/>
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According to the Varibike company, a study conducted by the University of New Mexico indicated that a rider’s maximum power output could be increased by over 30 percent when using both their arms and legs, as opposed to only their legs. Of course, using all four limbs would also provide a more complete work-out.<br/>
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Along with the arm cranks, the Varibike also has a set of quite narrow flat handlebars. Riders can switch to them in situations where they want a little more stability, or just feel like changing to a more upright position. Additionally, the shifter and brake levers are located on them.<br/>
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Steering looks like it could be a little ... unusual, but is reportedly achieved simply by leaning one's body into the turns.<br/>
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The base FR2 model of the Varibike features a 7005/7020 aluminum frame, and components such as a Shimano XT rear derailleur (there’s no front derailleur), a Ritchey Pro V2 seatpost, and Schwalbe BigApple 28 x 2.00 tires. It’s priced at €3,999 (US$5,350).<br/>
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The newer €4,499 ($6,019) FR3 model adds separate freewheels to each arm crank. This allows them to be used not only in the traditional opposing configuration, but also in “Synchron Style,” in which they stay side-by-side to produce a sort of rowing motion. Additionally, riders can just leave them both pointing forward, to serve as a set of aero bars. It's definitely interesting,…tag:thechainlink.org,2013-08-26:2211490:Comment:7478652013-08-26T20:24:16.051ZLegacy Frameworkshttps://thechainlink.org/profile/LegacyFrameworks
<p>It's definitely interesting, what do they say - there's more than one way to skin a cat.</p>
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<p>All 19 gears are on the front "chainring", the hub is single speed. But I do like the way the hub comes out without the drive system attached. See their latest blog post. </p>
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<p><br></br> <br></br> <cite>Jason W said:…</cite></p>
<p>It's definitely interesting, what do they say - there's more than one way to skin a cat.</p>
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<p>All 19 gears are on the front "chainring", the hub is single speed. But I do like the way the hub comes out without the drive system attached. See their latest blog post. </p>
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<p><br/> <br/> <cite>Jason W said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/stringbike-interesting?page=2&commentId=2211490%3AComment%3A747771&x=1#2211490Comment747771"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Yup. Not sure why people are glossing over that so much.<br/> <br/> <cite>Kelvin Mulcky said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/stringbike-interesting?id=2211490%3ATopic%3A746236&page=2#2211490Comment747808"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>The string bike has a 18 speed IGH and and a dishless rear wheel. Looks like some real innovation to me...</p>
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</blockquote> Yup. Not sure why people are…tag:thechainlink.org,2013-08-26:2211490:Comment:7477712013-08-26T20:05:24.685ZJason Whttps://thechainlink.org/profile/JasonW
<p>Yup. Not sure why people are glossing over that so much.<br/> <br/> <cite>Kelvin Mulcky said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/stringbike-interesting?id=2211490%3ATopic%3A746236&page=2#2211490Comment747808"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>The string bike has a 18 speed IGH and and a dishless rear wheel. Looks like some real innovation to me...</p>
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<p>Yup. Not sure why people are glossing over that so much.<br/> <br/> <cite>Kelvin Mulcky said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/stringbike-interesting?id=2211490%3ATopic%3A746236&page=2#2211490Comment747808"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>The string bike has a 18 speed IGH and and a dishless rear wheel. Looks like some real innovation to me...</p>
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</blockquote> I think its cool.tag:thechainlink.org,2013-08-26:2211490:Comment:7477642013-08-26T19:26:24.780ZSteve Courtrighthttps://thechainlink.org/profile/SteveCourtright
<p>I think its cool.</p>
<p>I think its cool.</p> I'd like to try the 29er.
tag:thechainlink.org,2013-08-26:2211490:Comment:7477612013-08-26T19:04:26.004Zin it to win it 8.0 mihttps://thechainlink.org/profile/Skip
<p>I'd like to try the 29er.</p>
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<p>I'd like to try the 29er.</p>
<p></p> This reminds me of the the Bi…tag:thechainlink.org,2013-08-26:2211490:Comment:7477542013-08-26T18:36:15.648Zdjmhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/djm
<p>This reminds me of the the <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.classicrendezvous.com/USA/biocam.htm" target="_blank">BioCam</a> / <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.classicrendezvous.com/USA/PowrCam_main.htm" target="_blank">PowerCam</a>: "The bicycle of the future has arrived."</p>
<p>This reminds me of the the <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.classicrendezvous.com/USA/biocam.htm" target="_blank">BioCam</a> / <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.classicrendezvous.com/USA/PowrCam_main.htm" target="_blank">PowerCam</a>: "The bicycle of the future has arrived."</p> The string bike has a 18 spee…tag:thechainlink.org,2013-08-26:2211490:Comment:7478082013-08-26T15:01:33.674ZKevin Mulckyhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/KevinMulcky
<p>The string bike has a 18 speed IGH and and a dishless rear wheel. Looks like some real innovation to me...</p>
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<p>The string bike has a 18 speed IGH and and a dishless rear wheel. Looks like some real innovation to me...</p>
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<p></p> I'm guessing that in the free…tag:thechainlink.org,2013-08-26:2211490:Comment:7476332013-08-26T14:49:58.567ZMichael J Blanehttps://thechainlink.org/profile/MichaelJBlane
<p>I'm guessing that in the free marketplace, the better/best working (within a reasonable price range) would rise to the top, keep being used and the others would fade away.<br></br> <br></br> <cite>Adam Herstein (5.5 mi) said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/stringbike-interesting?id=2211490%3ATopic%3A746236&page=2#2211490Comment747624"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>True, but a version that works was finally found. I am all for improvement, but many…</p>
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<p>I'm guessing that in the free marketplace, the better/best working (within a reasonable price range) would rise to the top, keep being used and the others would fade away.<br/> <br/> <cite>Adam Herstein (5.5 mi) said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/stringbike-interesting?id=2211490%3ATopic%3A746236&page=2#2211490Comment747624"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>True, but a version that works was finally found. I am all for improvement, but many of these projects are just trying to innovate for innovation's sake and don't actually improve the product.<br/> <br/> <cite>Serge Lubomudrov said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/stringbike-interesting?commentId=2211490%3AComment%3A747887&xg_source=msg_com_forum#2211490Comment747887"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>It is so far from version one precisely because there were people who didn't think there should be no improvement (or re-invention) of a design that works, no?<br/> <br/> <cite>Adam Herstein (5.5 mi) said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/stringbike-interesting?commentId=2211490%3AComment%3A747886&xg_source=msg_com_forum#2211490Comment747886"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>The modern bicycle is far from version 1.0.<br/> <br/> <cite>Michael J Blane 6.5 said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/stringbike-interesting?commentId=2211490%3AComment%3A747794&xg_source=msg_com_forum#2211490Comment747794"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>I'm not saying the Stringbike is an improvement but ... just because something has worked for 100 years doesn't mean it can't be improved upon (reinvented).</p>
<p>Did you ever wonder why so little software stays at version 1.0?</p>
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</blockquote> True, but a version that work…tag:thechainlink.org,2013-08-26:2211490:Comment:7476242013-08-26T14:28:30.302ZAdam Hersteinhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/AdamHerstein
<p>True, but a version that works was finally found. I am all for improvement, but many of these projects are just trying to innovate for innovation's sake and don't actually improve the product.<br></br> <br></br> <cite>Serge Lubomudrov said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/stringbike-interesting?commentId=2211490%3AComment%3A747887&xg_source=msg_com_forum#2211490Comment747887"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>It is so far from version one precisely…</p>
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<p>True, but a version that works was finally found. I am all for improvement, but many of these projects are just trying to innovate for innovation's sake and don't actually improve the product.<br/> <br/> <cite>Serge Lubomudrov said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/stringbike-interesting?commentId=2211490%3AComment%3A747887&xg_source=msg_com_forum#2211490Comment747887"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>It is so far from version one precisely because there were people who didn't think there should be no improvement (or re-invention) of a design that works, no?<br/> <br/> <cite>Adam Herstein (5.5 mi) said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/stringbike-interesting?commentId=2211490%3AComment%3A747886&xg_source=msg_com_forum#2211490Comment747886"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>The modern bicycle is far from version 1.0.<br/> <br/> <cite>Michael J Blane 6.5 said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/stringbike-interesting?commentId=2211490%3AComment%3A747794&xg_source=msg_com_forum#2211490Comment747794"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>I'm not saying the Stringbike is an improvement but ... just because something has worked for 100 years doesn't mean it can't be improved upon (reinvented).</p>
<p>Did you ever wonder why so little software stays at version 1.0?</p>
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</blockquote> The modern bicycle is far fro…tag:thechainlink.org,2013-08-26:2211490:Comment:7478862013-08-26T14:18:51.255ZAdam Hersteinhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/AdamHerstein
<p>The modern bicycle is far from version 1.0.<br></br> <br></br> <cite>Michael J Blane 6.5 said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/stringbike-interesting?commentId=2211490%3AComment%3A747794&xg_source=msg_com_forum#2211490Comment747794"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>I'm not saying the Stringbike is an improvement but ... just because something has worked for 100 years doesn't mean it can't be improved upon (reinvented).</p>
<p>Did you ever wonder why so…</p>
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<p>The modern bicycle is far from version 1.0.<br/> <br/> <cite>Michael J Blane 6.5 said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/stringbike-interesting?commentId=2211490%3AComment%3A747794&xg_source=msg_com_forum#2211490Comment747794"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>I'm not saying the Stringbike is an improvement but ... just because something has worked for 100 years doesn't mean it can't be improved upon (reinvented).</p>
<p>Did you ever wonder why so little software stays at version 1.0?</p>
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