Hill-bomb like a fearless child on Jeff Tiedeken's Gravity Bike. Photo Kyle / Flickr
If you have ever been a kid (and as you are alive and reading this, I’m assuming you have) then you probably risked your life more than once when you were small. You probably stood or sat on something with wheels and pushed yourself down a hill, only to wobble or panic or scream when a gentle roll turned into a careening charge.
And you probably walked right back up the hill and did it again.
The Gravity Bike will give you the same experience as an adult, with one big addition: because you are no longer indestructible, the Gravity Bike has brakes.
Built by Jeff Tiedeken, The bike isn’t just a scary way to get to the bottom of a hill. It also packs in a lot of neat engineering tricks. Most noticeable is the low profile. Because you don’t need to pedal, the seat is right down over the rear wheel. The position is more like that of a motorbike.
The brakes are Avid Elixr hydraulic disc brakes, because you’ll probably want to stop, and the wheels are 26-inch Crossmax Lefties, which mount to the frame on one side only.
Finally, the crank is fixed and has both sides together, at the back, again like a motorcycle.
The Gravity Bike has reached 50mph on a downhill, and could probably get to 70 mph. The only thing you need is a steep enough hill, and a brave enough rider.
MLS Gravity Bike [Cycle EXIF]
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Full story at http://feeds.wired.com/~r/GearFactor/~3/nmzuKLtB2dE/
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