Innovation of the week

last updated 8 January 2015

It’s “the cyclists’ equivalent to the standing desk,” said Andrew Liszewski in Gizmodo.com. The company Kolelinia has come up with the Halfbike, a conveyance that “looks like somebody stripped away all the comfy bits from a real bike.” There’s no seat, no conventional handlebars, and only one wheel that resembles anything you’d see on a conventional bicycle. The rider pedals from a standing position and holds on to a vertical shaft that allows the Halfbike to be steered—and yes, it features a handbrake as well. “What you lose in comfort, you gain in portability”: The Halfbike is small enough to fit easily into an elevator and light enough to carry up the stairs. Kolelinia is trying to raise $80,000 via Kickstarter to put its invention into production, but you can already buy your own for $799. “You’re clearly paying a premium here for the coolness factor.”