BikeRumor.com

Developed by designer Ralf Kittmann, the HMK 651 Electric “Motorcycle” doesn’t actually have pedals, but it’s minimal shape and size more closely resembles a bicycle than a motorcycle.

The all carbon body takes electronic management well ahead of other e-bikes, using the carbon itself to carry the current, and because it’s lighter, it takes less power to move the bike.  The twin wheels (two per axle) use the power to move forward, then capture energy during braking.  The designers’ site suggests (based on Google’s translation) that the carbon filaments act as a capacitor, storing the excess energy and inductively charging while the bike is stopped.

Additionally, because the entire body of the bike is carrying an electrical signal, onboard equipment can monitor the condition of the frame and alert the owner of any problems.

Think it’s too far fetched to ever be manufactured?  Tell that to the real, actual bike right after the break…

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Check out this sweet project we found by Instructables user “hunrichs”. He’s figured out how to make a “big boy” spirograph out of a piece of pegboard, chainring and bike chain!  Check out his tutorial here. (Warning: Not approved for use with Rotor Rings.)

Click ‘more’ for the finished artwork and an old Spirograph commercial to get you in the mood…

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File this under “How to heck did I not see this at NAHBS” other than someone must’ve had it in the photo booth room as I passed by Ted Wojcik’s booth.

So, this comes to you courtesy of Boston Herald, including the photo.  We’ve seen some cool pedal-powered lawnmowers before (here and here), but this pretty much takes the cake in that it’s completely purpose built from the ground up to chop grass rather than being a makeshift hack that would probably topple over fairly easy.

So, for the photo that I did take as I walked by Ted’s unmanned-at-the-moment booth, hit “more”…

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Sidewall Distribution has taken stock of these Snafu ‘Nicholson’ saddles to complement the increased business it is doing with fixed gear brand Focale 44.

Jeremie Infelise of Sidewall told BikeRumor: “The shape of the Nicholson saddle is pure ‘70s perfection. Think Brooks, Unicanitor and of course Sella Italia’s legendary Turbo. In 20 years we think our Nicholson saddle in lumberjack plaid, golden wallpaper and embossed filigree will be as highly praised as any of these great seats that came before it. Like the cherished Unicanitor seat on my old Windsor track bike, the Nicholson features an injection-molded nylon pan with 7mm solid chromoly rails. A thin layer of lightweight urethane foam and a screenprinted vinyl top provide comfort and style fans of old Turbo saddles can only dream of.”

To see what other new goods have landed with the distributor, hit more.

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NAHBS 2010 - Shimano, which stepped in a few months ago as the title sponsor of the North American Handmade Bicycle Show, was on hand primarily to meet and greet all the small builders and show them different applications for Shimano equipment, in particular the electronic Dura-Ace Di2 group.  From the looks of things around the show floor, a lot of builders have jumped on the group despite the steep price…which you’ll see as we post more of the 1,300+ photos (and the show’s not even over!) we’ve taken.

Rather than miss an opportunity to wow folks, the big ‘S’ debuted their all new remote shifter for Di2.  Intended to mount on the handlebar near the stem for easy thumb shifting while climbing, the tiny remote shows future potential for the group and creates a pretty solid add-on.

Hit more for pics and details…

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Well…two qualifiers:   It’s the world’s smallest “rideable” bike and technically it’s not really a bicycle since there are no pedals.  But, it’s freakin’ tiny!  Get past the goofy intro if you’re not feelin’ in and watch the dude ride it at about 1:09.  You don’t really get a sense of the scale until you see someone on it…it’s sooooo small.

Here’s what their website says about it:

Moosshiqk – is a 12 inch height, 18 inch length battery driven bike. Only one of its kind in the world which can be ride backwards (reverse). It can be disassembled in less than 1 minute and can be assembled in the same time. Dry weight : 4 kg, Speed : 12 to 15 kmph

Hipsters will love it for the chopped flat bar.  Let’s see if they cop the seat idea…

Forget those road and bmx hubless prototypes, these guys from Yale have built a working bicycle with no hub, spokes or anything else in the middle of the wheel.

Posted on Reddit, they said only the rear wheel is bare in the middle because they ran out of time in the semester, but that a spokeless front wheel would actually be easier and lighter because they wouldn’t have to build in the drivetrain features.

Speaking of drivetrain, here’s the deal:

It’s a single speed setup. We used two cranks and two bottom brackets in the front to gear up the ratio. It goes from (IIRC) 53 to a 13, which is connected to the second crank and another 53 which connects to the rear hub. The rear hub is just a normal ratcheting rear hub that we mated to our belt pulley. Not sure if all these bike terms are right, but that’s the general idea.

The front wheel would be almost exactly the same as the rear wheel except that it could be a little lighter. Some of the aluminum can be shaved off since there’s no powertrain to connect to.

The wheel/rim itself is made from T6061 aluminum.

More pics after the break…

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14BikeCo is a fixture on London’s track bike scene, so it’s surprising to be reminded that they’ve only been going a year.

Their steel track frames, combining Lee Cooper’s classic English workmanship and modern design, branding and colors, still look fresh as, and the shop and courtyard around the back of the Truman Brewery, E1, are a key hangout in summer (remember that, folks?).

To celebrate, 14BikeCo is throwing a first birthday bash this Sunday. Yes that’s Valentine’s Day, the 14th (could it be on any other number?). They’ve taken over part of the top floor above Shop 14 where there’ll be ramps, built by Andy and the Fixed Gear London guys, Rollapaluza roller racing, films, prizes and more. It’s sponsored by Vans and Carhartt, and Tony Fast and Tom Lamarche, along with Super Ted among the world’s best tricks riders, have flown over especially.

I currently have four bikes and no girlfriend (it’s possible these things are related), so I know where I’ll be. But if you’re out on a date, bring him/her along - or come after you’ve crashed and burned. Beer and bikes will never let you down!

Right on the heels of the hubless BMX bike concept we found, here’s a similar set up in a road bike by designer Bradford Waugh.  The hubless wheels are driven by geared rollers, but check out the crankset!

More pics after the break…

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Found this on Minimalissimo from Russian designer Nikolay Boltachev.  It’s pure concept, built around hubless wheels and magnetic bearings, and apparently he’s looking for help developing those ideas.  Leave some comments with any ideas, and hit ‘more’ to see additional photos…

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Found this via FixedGearGallery by way of BikeMandan.com.  It’s a handbuilt wood bike called the Birch Bike and was crafted by Alan Downey in Austin, TX.  Sure, it’s a bit odd to see a double crankset on a fixie, but irregardless, it’s supposedely the first all wood fixed gear bike submitted to their gallery.

Another photo after the break, or just shoot on over to FGG for more…

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Far out man. Just looking at the contraption makes me think of this transportation alternative.  And to answer the question at the end of the video, “No. No it doesn’t.”

Bikeclub Games’ Tall Bike Joust game for the iPhone and iPod Touch just released, and it’s more tech laden than you might think.

For starters, it’s a fully 3-D game that used real person motion capture with TBJ world champion Ryan Doyle, so the action looks real.  For gameplay, there’s the obvious: hitting people with a pole while riding.  But there’s also a lot of strategy involved.  You have to manage your player’s capabilities, which get better the more you compete and win.  In order to remain competitive, you have to customize your freak-bike riding avatar with various upgrades, then monitor your speed, power and guarding to take down your opponent.

Six city landscapes, including New York, Minneapolis, Reno, New Orleans, Hong Kong and Amsterdam, introduce various terrain challenges like snow, potholes, water and sand, plus visual distractions like sun and neon (besides the scenery).  Work your way up the ranks to battle the legendary Doyle himself.

Get it on the iTunes store, and checkout the indie film B.I.K.E. for the inspiration behind TBJ, trailer after the break…

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Via RidingPretty, by way of BikeHugger, comes the story of a woman (Maria Michaelson, to be exact) whose riding her bike up the entire coast of California while pulling this talking art sculpture.  There’s a recorder embedded into the sculpture, but it’d be even better if they put Verne Troyer in there and had people talk to it.

Artist Kevin Cyr’s Camper Bike is designed as a functioning sculpture piece that’s also the subject of several paintings.

The Camper Bike project began in 2008 and is a fully functional solo camper that’s attached to a modified bicycle frame.  Inside are all the amenities one could hope to squeeze into such a miniature living space.  Check out the blueprints and some of the paintings of it after the break…

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