The Dutch bike company Batavus is close to a breakthrough of sorts: their researchers may soon understand how--and why--bicycles work. They go on to claim that such an understanding will enable them to design better bikes.
"“Bicycle manufacturers have never been able to say precisely how a bicycle works,” said Dr Arend Schwab of the Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering at the Delft University of Technology. “They have always had to refine their designs purely through experimentation. In our model, they can enter into the computer all of the various factors that influence the stability and handling of their bicycle. The model then calculates how the bicycle will react at specific speeds.”
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I wonder if they're over thinking the concept.
ReplyDeleteMaybe they are overthinking, but we'll have to wait and see what they come up with in the shop. Due to the exchange rate, few Americans can afford a Dutch bike, which is a shame because they have this je ne sais quoi quality that makes them very appealing.
ReplyDeleteI'm intrigued by those Dutch cargo bikes. I don't have any need for one, but they're interesting.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, Jack. I found myself checking them out in bike shops--and on the street, where they are everywhere. Apparently, the minute you have one, you put it to work.
ReplyDeleteRight now, I can't really use a bike for a major food buying trip. My rear rack just isn't enough.