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.”
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