Innovation of the week
The Halfbike has no seat, no conventional handlebars, and only one conventional bicycle wheel.
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.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Road trip: New England’s maple syrup season
Feature New England is serving up maple syrup in delicious and unexpected ways
By The Week US Published
-
Music Reviews: Mdou Moctar, Panda Bear, and Tate McRae
Feature “Tears of Injustice,” “Sinister Grift,” and “So Close to What”
By The Week US Published
-
What's at stake in the Mahmoud Khalil deportation fight?
Talking Points Vague accusations and First Amendment concerns
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published