Luxury Urban Transport In The Form Of A Carbon Fiber Electric Folding Bike: YikeBike

A Carbon Fibre Folding Electric Bike Available For Pre-Order


The YikeBike is a a super high–end all electric folding bicycle made of carbon fiber that weighs less than 10 kg. Currently designed and assembled in New Zealand, the bike is available for pre-order now and the first 100 orders are expected to be delivered mid 2010.

Initially the YikeBike will be available in the UK, Germany, France, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Ireland, Denmark, Belgium and New Zealand.








More information and FAQs after the following images.








hi-res photos below, please click to enlarge:




Answers to some of the important questions:

How fast does the YikeBike go?
The YikeBike is electronically limited to 20 kph, even down-hill. It accelerates to top speed in just a few seconds.

How long does it take to charge the YikeBike?
This depends on the amount of battery discharge, but a typical time would be 20 minutes for 80% charge.

How much does it cost to charge?
It depends upon your electricity supplier, but in most cities the cost to charge would be less that €0.10 equivalent.

How tall/short do you have to be to ride the YikeBike? Is the seat adjustable? Is there a weight limit?
The YikeBike can comfortably be ridden by anyone from 160cm to 195cm (5’3” to 6'5"). There is no need to adjust the seat because you do not pedal – your height relative to the seat is only important to how much your knees are bent when riding. The YikeBike can comfortably take a rider (and personal effects) weighing up to 100kg. Beyond this weight we do not warrant performance. Over time we may make different sized ones - particularly for children.

What is the battery life and cost of replacement?
The YikeBike has latest Lithium Phosphate (liFePO4) batteries that are good for at least 1,000 charges. We will share the exact details when they become available closer to the start of YikeBike production.

How quickly does it fold?
With a bit of practice, folding takes less than 15 seconds.

Can I have a colour other than black?
‘Carbon fibre black’ is the only colour that will initially be available for a YikeBike. After initial production has begun we will look at different colours and options to accessorise your YikeBike.

How heavy is a YikeBike?
The YikeBike weighs less than 10kg with a full battery and air in the tyres

What are the folded dimensions of a YikeBike?
The folded dimensions are 150mm by 600mm by 600mm. The total folded volume is 40 litres. The folded YikeBike is considerably smaller than a typical folding bicycle and the fact that all of the mechanicals are enclosed reduces the risk of marking or staining clothing or furniture.

How far can YikeBike go?
Currently the YikeBike can travel a distance of 9 - 10 Km.

How much will the Yike-Bike cost?
The price for the first YikeBikes will be between €3,500-€3,900. You can pre-order one now here with a deposit on your credit card.

for complete information, visit YikeBike.

About the inventor, Grant Ryan:

YikeBike founder, Grant is an addicted inventor and entrepreneur. He has founded a number of companies including GlobalBrain.net (sold to NBCi), RealContacts, SLI Systems (profitable fast growing SaaS search company) and Eurekster (North America Red Herring 100 in 2006). He is on the board of Canterbury Development Corporation and has also served on the board of the New Zealand Government's $140 million Venture Investment Fund and $430 million Foundation for Research Science and Technology.

Grant has a degree in Mechanical Engineering and a PhD in Ecological Economics from the University of Canterbury. The YikeBike perfectly combines his love of mechanics, environment and innovation.



YikeBike is a statement about using smart technology to solve the problems of our increasingly congested, polluted, stressful cities. It is the first commercial expression of the mini-farthing concept, created up by a bunch of successful entrepreneurs, engineers and dreamers. More on the history of the development of the concept can be found at www.minifarthing.com

all images and information courtesy of YikeBike.com


Related Posts:

Another Folding Electric Bike; The Capella


The Brammo Enertia Electric Motorcycle:


The Mission One EV Electric Motorcycle:


The Fastest Electric Bike:The KillaCycle which has been clocked at a top speed of 168 mph:


The Uno Electric Unicycle:


Purisme Carbon Fibre products:

The Top 30 Coolest Coloring Books For Grown-Ups

above: a few of the adult coloring books now available on the market

Sure you can buy coloring books of all the Presidents, of geography and just about every licensed character out there. Fill in the lines of famous fashion illustrations and insects of all types. But why do that when you can be shading in a handgun or adding crosshatching to a cock?

Peter Rolfe's Sculpted Wood Human Form Dressers

Woodworker Peter Rolfe has created some of the most lovely hand crafted wood pieces of traditional forms, like console tables, chairs and jewelry boxes.

But his latest sculptural pieces, in the form of female and male human bodies are so interesting, I had to share them with you. Crafted of birch ply, the male and female sculpted torsos include functional drawers. Take a look.

Era I:




Gen II:




Era III:





Peter also collaborates with woodworker Carl Handy, together they opened a workshop in the latter half of 2005 called, not surprisingly, Rolfe and Handy.


above: Peter in his studio

About Peter

(in his own words):
"I grew up in the East Midlands and from a young age felt most at home in the Peter Rolfe school workshops. After gaining two A-levels in Art and Design I moved to High Wycombe to attend Buckinghamshire University. High Wycombe has a long history of furniture production and it's university has a well established fine furniture course.

After completing my HND in Design and Technology I began work at Stewart Lindford Furniture as an apprentice. I spent five years learning all i could from the experienced makers I worked alongside, using only solid hardwood and specializing in burrs, I learned many traditional construction methods and improved my hand skills. During my time with Steward Linford I received a Guild Mark for craftsmanship, awarded specifically for the Catherine of Aragon Desk, a limited edition piece sold through Harrods.

For the past seven years I have been working for Stuart Groves Furniture learning more up to date techniques, how to manipulate timber and discovering how modern manmade materials play an increasingly large part in today's furniture production.

The varied range of experience I have gained over the past fourteen years has enabled me to design and make an array of furniture, from simple elegant jewellery boxes to more advanced sculptural pieces. My current work is heavily influenced by nature, using shapes that we all recognize but would not be traditionally thought of as furniture forms."

Peter's Contact information:
peter@p-rolfe.co.uk
16 Old Coach Drive
High Wycombe
Buckinghamshire
HP11 1AS

You will also be able to some of his pieces at this upcoming show in London:

Making the Future
Timonty Mark - Portman Village
9th Sept - 4th October 2009
Mon - Sat 11am - 7pm, Sun 11am - 5pm
20 New Quebec Street
London
W1H 7RZ

Chic High Heel Pain Relief From A Vending Machine: Rollasoles & Afterheels

Put away those dancing shoes and go home in comfort!
High heel calf cramps and sore squished toes get relief in the form of a vending machine with Rollasole, a brilliant product with equally savvy marketing. Rollasoles and their eco-friendly counterpart, Afterheels, are comfortable and chic ballet slippers available for purchase from vending machines inside select UK nightclubs.



For approximately GBP 5 (approx $8.00 USD), you get a pair of wearable flats in their own little dufflebag that will relieve you of those 5 inch stilettos that you bravely donned at the beginning of the evening.





The brainchild of entrepreneur Matt Horan, whose business card reads "Sole Director", the classic ballet slippers sold out when tested in nightclubs and are now a hit in the UK. With this success, they plan on introducing more vending machines and intend to roll them out (pardon the pun) beyond the UK.





Rollasoles are available in three sizes; small, medium and large and come in four colors; black, metallic gold, metallic silver or metallic pink (which is presently not available in their online store):






Matt Horan, the inventor of these truly revolutionary shoes, says he came up with the idea in a moment of drunken epiphany and after growing sick of giving his petite girlfriend (who loves wearing high heels, that much is understood) piggyback rides on the way home from a nightclub. First, he realized he must make flats available to women in the wee hours of morning, when the party is still raging on but all ladies are this close to fainting from the pain their high heels are causing. Thus, the idea of installing vending machines in clubs came naturally.


above: inventor Matt Horan with his Rollasoles.



Rollasoles' identity, web design, packaging and branding by created by the talented folks at Magpie Studio.



Afterheels is their 100% natural and fully recyclable version of the Rollasoles. The body of the shoe is made from natural, sustainable materials which biodegrade in the same time as an oak leaf. The polyproylene (PP) insole is fully recyclable where local facilities allow.



The colors aren't as pretty and they aren't metallic, but at the moment they are asking consumers to vote on new colors as well as submit their own color choices for Afterheels via an interactive design module (whose screen shot is shown below) on their site:



The duffle bag is currently made from a low density polyethylene (LDPE) which is also recyclable where local facilities allow. They aim to start a returns scheme if there are no facilities near you, but they’re aiming to change this to an even more environmentally friendly material.

Genius.


all images and info courtesy of Rollasoles, Afterheels and Magpie Studios.

Visit Afterheels
Visit Rollasole