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The NuBike Is a Chain-Less Bicycle That Set Out to Reimagine Pedaling

8 points by georgecmu 4y ago

simple10 4y ago
NuBike was a failed Kickstarter project. I've helped market a lot of successful Kickstarter and IndieGoGo campaigns, including a $2M e-bike project. It appears the project founder just created a video and tossed it up on Kickstarter without much planning. It requires a tremendous amount more than that these days to sell on Kickstarter, especially at a $3,600 price point. For starters, there are no 3rd party reviews or social proof to convince anyone the bike is well made and fully functional. It's a cool concept though. I hope he relaunches it with better marketing.
midoridensha 4y ago
It seems like a lot of money for a bike missing many features now considered essential: disc brakes, and lots of gears namely. The article says it only has 4 speeds; that's really pathetic for a modern bicycle, and it sounds like it would be horrible for hilly terrain. Disc brakes are also a must-have on a modern road bike (costing $3600), though I guess if you're not riding on any hills maybe it won't seem so important. The frame is also ugly and probably doesn't have any of the aerodynamic or compliance features that are now normal on bikes in that price range, since he doesn't have the resources of a company like Trek to do simulation and wind tunnel testing. Maybe he should have set his sights lower, and made a lower-cost, low-performance bike with this drivetrain instead. An aluminum-frame city bike with this would make more sense to at least get it out there.
theflyingelvis 4y ago
Meh
gelatocar 4y ago
Seems like some pretty dubious claims. If the bike was more efficient than a normal bike it'd be pretty easy to demonstrate that by having the same rider ride the same course on the NuBike and a normal bike.
- rieTohgh6 4y ago
  Do road races impose any limits on hardware outside of minimum weight? Even few percent of advantage should be very noticeable in competition.
  - theflyingelvis 4y ago
    Yes. Depends on the governing body and discipline but yes.
vivegi 4y ago
Is the tradeoff then having a standing cyclist instead of a sitting cyclist? A vertical pedaling system like what is shown with NuBike would then mean one could pedal the bike by shifting weight from one leg to another, with gravity doing most of the work, in theory. The bike could still have a seat that can be used when the bike is cruising (i.e., when no pedaling is done) to provide rest/comfort periods from prolonged standing or to give your legs a rest. I have no idea if this is just nonsense or if this idea has legs (pun unintended).

8 points by georgecmu 4y ago

NuBike was a failed Kickstarter project. I've helped market a lot of successful Kickstarter and IndieGoGo campaigns, including a $2M e-bike project. It appears the project founder just created a video and tossed it up on Kickstarter without much planning. It requires a tremendous amount more than that these days to sell on Kickstarter, especially at a $3,600 price point. For starters, there are no 3rd party reviews or social proof to convince anyone the bike is well made and fully functional. It's a cool concept though. I hope he relaunches it with better marketing.

midoridensha 4y ago

It seems like a lot of money for a bike missing many features now considered essential: disc brakes, and lots of gears namely. The article says it only has 4 speeds; that's really pathetic for a modern bicycle, and it sounds like it would be horrible for hilly terrain. Disc brakes are also a must-have on a modern road bike (costing $3600), though I guess if you're not riding on any hills maybe it won't seem so important. The frame is also ugly and probably doesn't have any of the aerodynamic or compliance features that are now normal on bikes in that price range, since he doesn't have the resources of a company like Trek to do simulation and wind tunnel testing. Maybe he should have set his sights lower, and made a lower-cost, low-performance bike with this drivetrain instead. An aluminum-frame city bike with this would make more sense to at least get it out there.

theflyingelvis 4y ago

Meh

gelatocar 4y ago

Seems like some pretty dubious claims. If the bike was more efficient than a normal bike it'd be pretty easy to demonstrate that by having the same rider ride the same course on the NuBike and a normal bike.

rieTohgh6 4y ago
Do road races impose any limits on hardware outside of minimum weight? Even few percent of advantage should be very noticeable in competition.
- theflyingelvis 4y ago
  Yes. Depends on the governing body and discipline but yes.

vivegi 4y ago

Is the tradeoff then having a standing cyclist instead of a sitting cyclist? A vertical pedaling system like what is shown with NuBike would then mean one could pedal the bike by shifting weight from one leg to another, with gravity doing most of the work, in theory. The bike could still have a seat that can be used when the bike is cruising (i.e., when no pedaling is done) to provide rest/comfort periods from prolonged standing or to give your legs a rest. I have no idea if this is just nonsense or if this idea has legs (pun unintended).