Richard Quest tries out a bike with springs in its wheels - the Loopwheels. The bike goes on sale in the fall for $1800. For more CNN videos, visit our site at www.cnn.com/video/
OhFishyFish Exactly. That's why you can lock it full extended to avoid losing energy on roads.... You don't see shocks on roads bicycles,frames are super rigid too to avoid energy loss.
Are you talking about forward motion? Because there is no energy lost on forward or backward movement for that matter. It takes less pressure to turn the wheel than it does to compress a wheel. If it worked the way you are thinking. The same thing would be true with spokes.
Wrong way around. The Royal Family's specific dental situation is due to generations of inbreeding that has jumped meaning and become an English stereotype. Despite on average having beter dental care than America.
he's attempting the "bbc british voice", and failing at it so he sounds really annoying and unnatural idk what's more annoying this or london street accents lmao
Thing about this design is that it is incredibly inefficient. There is a reason, a very good reason, why wheels are designed to be as stiff as possible, not as shock absorbent as possible. This invention is akin to designing a triangle 'wheel' and claiming great advances in wheel stability and prevention of unwanted rolling. It simply defeats the purpose of the bicycle wheel and is a regression in technology rather than a progression. That is also why they added suspension to bikes. The reason is simple, suspension absorbs shocks when there is shock, and is rigid (and therefore, mechanically efficient) when there are not shocks. A wheel that absorbs shock also tries to absorb the rotation of the wheel (it flexes 4x per rotation, like trying to ride a bicycle over speed bumps in the suspension analogy) and convert mechanical and kinetic energy into heat. Put simply, riding with these wheels on the street is not much different than trying to ride in soft sand or on a giant mattress. Lots of work, not a lot of efficiency, low speed.
there are still major inefficiencies in full suspension with sagging while peddling and other effects, here the frame is rigid providing some compensation overlap with the inefficiency of a flexing frame, and you're just moving the suspension to the wheels which can handle hitting steep bumps much better due to the hub being able to move front to back...rather than relying on a fixed angle and bending your fork or rims. it may be real mushy compared to a hard tail or full suspension but that doesn't make it some giant mattress nightmare. using full suspension is also super expensive and heavy and just goes with the entire frame, where these can be changed to whatever bike and could have a range of stiffness for different performance. way to over simplify and denigrate the product without any clue for the target market. it's not for everybody but it's not some major regression either.
Thrashaero Yes, that's true, but while suspension bikes absorb energy from your pedaling, this design absorbs energy not only from your pedaling but also when coasting. Moreover, suspensions can be finely tuned to minimize this effect and, like Specialized's Brain, can be cleverly designed to almost completely eliminate it.
my thoughts exactly, as the suspension flexes the central axis shifts from center mass and makes any force applied less efficient. Certainly a more cushioned ride but it would certainly make you exert more energy
I'm kind of sure the whole kinetic energy being converted into heat is not going to be too big of a deal as long as the springs are pretty stiff. But I'm much more curious about the resonance thing, what with no damping and all. the thing is though, that in some instances, there would be some advantage to this design, can't be price, because the spring material must be expensive, maybe weight?
Ian Thompson "Grow up child" I don't think that insult works here, assuming you don't know how FLYING CARS work, they don't use roads. They fly. The idea of a flying car is to get rid of roads. You should learn to think critically and learn better insults for specific situations, you idiot.
Sure it does, a flying car is a car that doubles as a flying machine. A personal flying craft doesn't drive on roads, because it flys... Don't think to hard on that..
The suspension springs are strangely absent in both bikes. My old bike had springs. Usual suspensions still have a problem this wheel attempts to solve: they work only in one direction, upwards. He should try to invent better suspensions. Such a thing already exists but not in bikes. The Shinkansen has suspensions that work in two directions: upwards and sidewards. This inventors wants backwards working springs.
I don't see a way to adjust tension based on rider weight either. And what is he on about with the "absorbs in all directions?" A standard fork absorbs the bumps in the road, I she expecting impacts on the top of the wheel?
00PiggyCosmonaut How do you hit a wall? How is your bike falling vertically on the front wheel? The tire should have enough give that it would absorb the impact. It is fine for cheap bikes that aren't going to see any real stresses in a city. It would be terrible for trail riding.
calvin2032 You clearly have never ridden fast. And it would be great for trail riding (if the wheel was bigger). If you go off a jump or mound fast and flip forward, a normal bike tyre doesn't have enough compression to handle the 70+ kilo force when it hits the ground, and will explode or fall off, leaving the rim to hit the ground directly and bend.
calvin2032 A curb can be considered a wall for a bike tire. I've seen plenty of bike rims bend and break at the weld because someone hit a curb too fast.
These aren't going to work! You want the wheels to be stiff, otherwise all your energy will go into bending the springs rather than moving the bike! These might be good for other things like the baby-buggy, but I think they're a really bad idea for bicycles.
***** "As long as they're stiff enough"--that's my whole point. The very idea is misguided. As long as they're stiff enough---how stiff, maybe as stiff as spokes? As I said above, I had never thought about it, but that's why shock absorbers are on the forks rather than the wheels. Think about it, wheels are never squishy. Cars, motorcycles, all have rigid wheels, covered with just enough tire to grip. If you want a softer ride, no car maker in the history of the world has ever said, I know what we need--softer wheels! I really admire these guys' drive--they had an idea and went after it. But it also shows that just because no one is doing it doesn't mean no one's thought of it.
So... You are complaining about people getting more exercise? We are not talking about mountain bikes or long distance travel. You should be on flat surfaces for those relatively anyway. This is way more for in-city/low distance travel or dirt biking really. You can't argue something is shit because it doesn't apply to all areas but makes many other areas better. You don't put 30" tires on every type of bike for a reason. No single wheel works in all areas. Though the claim was a more pleasant experience and is shown in town. What's lying about that? Regardless more exercise is never a bad thing.
JamesCizuz I wasn't aware I was complaining about anything. If you want a better experience, shock absorbers are the way to do it. You mention a flat surface. These wheels will take a flat surface and make it feel like you're constantly riding uphill. No one is complaining about the idea of a smoother ride. It is possible for something to be a bad idea without me criticizing or complaining about it. As I said, I really admire the guy's gumption, but this idea just wasn't a good one.
AllPro777 You are right. Killing people without due process is more than shady, but the "collateral damage" that comes with drone strikes is unacceptable.
I like the fact that spokes keep the wheel round and, much like a chain, work very well. A lot of things in the world do need improvement, wheels aren't one of them.
Almost like it was a solution in search of a problem, instead of the other way aroiund. "A mom once launched her baby in the air so I decided to design a bike wheel"
Everyone says you shouldn't try to reinvent the wheel. That doesn't mean you shouldn't reinvent the wheel. That's tongue in cheek for saying "Don't fix what ain't broke". Regardless he reinvented spokes.
I just realised the bike is 1800$ and a top quality trials bike or mountain bike is probably 2000$ for a full suspension not just a 20' wheel with a glorified trashheap steel frame on it
Shoulder and wrist ache from using a conventional wheel? Having ridden bikes since I was 7, a good amount of that riding being on hills, unpaved roads or rough terrain, I can honestly say "shoulder and wrist ache" were never a factor. Sore thighs, shin splints, or a sore crotch -perhaps, but wrists and shoulders? Seems like they are reaching a bit.
The only time I ever got any pain from riding a bicycle was either from doing BMX dirt jumps, or downhill mountain biking. I understand the application of these wheels, but I don't really think they are all that necessary to be honest, and even less....revolutionary....
Those tires are way too small, it's like using a very low gearing ratio. This will never be practical for anything other than the street. You'll need at least a 21", 27.5" or 29er.
scowell Larger wheels still go better over uneven ground and have inherently lower rolling resistance. I suspect they don't have the properties of the springs quite right to produce normal sized wheels that are neither too wobbly in the springs nor too fragile in the rim. The latter is a big drawback of a system supporting the rim only in three points vs. the usual more than thirty of the spokes.
I really learned a lot about physics in wheels from comments section. I also appreciate this new invention but it is true that these babies will be require more efforts. P.S. The presenter just killed the entire fun.
After blowing 4 flats in the summer of '15, I went over to solid tires. Super pleased with that! But now, my 10+ year old spokes are starting to come loose. I keep having to tighten them, but I remembered this video. I didn't look for it, but TH-cam sometimes read minds and recommended me this once again, but I guess it hasn't come that far?
Why are people so critical of this guy? I think it's an ingenious step forward for innovation. I think if there were more of those springs as spokes, this would be an amazing and smart idea. Three points of contact to the rim concerns me. It should be 5 or more. If one fails, ant least the other four or more can compensate for long enough that you go get the wheel replaced or the spring fixed.
I think it has more to do with his attitude. He doesn't come off as very likeable, which makes it harder for people to want to give him nearly 2 grand for his prototype.
AeroSixWJ The reasons is in your easy rich. Why to use 3 or 5 or even more if just 1 will suffice would be cheaper more reliable, easy to change and proved itself for man many decades. This is the reason why I personally dislike it. Direction to look is mountain bike and cars etc. Ok and here is one more issue think what would happen with heavy load vehicles that used such ...... or think even bigger how about planes with this stupid weal that could brake anytime in 9 places at list. Based on the model that I saw. Could be less or more.
Obvious Schism holes in the springs, and a locking set of three radial gears attached to the hub. turn it to move one end of each spring so that the tension is reduced or increased.
With all the wind resistance on these wheels, you could generate energy! Great thinking! Just give the springs a slight angle and have people ride these things near wind turbines. You'll have enough wind to power the whole country!
Contrast ERW against all other "Next Gen" wheels or tires. A new patented mechanical wheel. Negative pressure...Vacuum powered, secure at the highest speeds. High frequency in wheel suspension is anti bounce.
Ничто не сравнится с надувной покрышкой. Уж сколько лет (лет сто) её пытаются на что-нибудь заменить, но всё безуспешно. Все эти лжепокрышки поглощают энергию, которая велосипедисту очень нужна. Использовать как рессоры - вопрос спорный, т.к колесо никогда не будет отцентровано, ведь ось вращения смещается вниз. Короче, херня это всё на постном масле...
This won't catch up - the springs have huge drag because of their area hitting the air right on. The inventor really should add some aerodynamic casings on the springs, as well as get rid of his greed and cut the price or he'll end up another butthurt homeless "genius".
***** I didn't give any arbitrary guess, this is simple knowledge about what a plane placed perpendicularly to flow does. The lift is off topic, the problem here is about braking force, any possible lift won't do anything because of wheels. And just for reference, there is a tweak for wires: A plastic dish attached to each side of the wires. This has the pitfall of tearing the rider sideways with wind though.
Do you people even ride bikes???? I am concerned about the stiffness... throwing your bike into a banked curve down a mountain I dont see these things perform or even hold up. These things wouldnt even work properly on a full suspension bike.
Just because they have give doesn't mean it takes more effort. When the spring on the bottom is being compressed, the other two are also pulling back upward. With spokes you're mainly being supported by the ones on the lower half of the wheel. It's not going to feel like you're riding on flat tires which is what people seem to be thinking. All three loops are working at all times. They're also set with high enough tension that they should provide the same level of support as spokes. They just distribute the weight around the wheel differently
Jeez I'm sick of these half-ass solutions to non-problems by idiots, that solve nothing and make the bicycle worse. The buggy that threw the kid out - ok, the wheels are very small, so a kerb stops a buggy dead if the parent isn't concentrating enough on protecting the life of their kid. Most bike wheels aren't going to experience such an impact except in a bad accident, like hitting a tree or wall. Now, being able to provide suspension in all directions (it only required forward as well as up and down anyway) has the big disadvantage that the suspension is activated constantly at all different points around the circumference of the wheel as it turns, just with the weight of the bike and rider, which I believe will cause significant increase in energy loss. Whereas normal suspension (springs in forks or rubber blocks at key points, etc.) are only activated when you go over bumps, the hub of this wheel will always be pushed down below the centre, so as it turns each of the leaf springs is compressed and released constantly. The rubber and compressability of the air in your tyres does the same thing, and anyone with varied cycling experience knows how much more efficient cycling is on hard tyres than on soft bouncy ones. Indeed, exactly the same advantage of all-round suspension would be obtained by fitting big fat tyres, with the same disadvantage. To the extent this provides the supposed advantage, it turns pedal power into dissipated heat. Just don't ride into trees, is my advice, and strap kids into their buggies if you want to bang them into kerbs.
Better to do that with higher volume tires, and gain more pothole snake-bite resistance, then you build those sick leg muscles more because you're continuing to ride instead of stopping to fix a flat or call a mate to give you a lift home.
Does anyone else find Richard Quest to be a complete buffoon? His act is to stand out by acting weird. I can't stand the act, because I have heard he isn't like that at all in real life - there is not a jot of sincerity or intelligent analysis in this man.
Think back to newtonian physics and the T=rxF equations. Remeber T and F are both vectors. Kind of fun if you do the translation and remember the force is changing and the radius :)
strong and sturdy wins the race... all the force on those loops versus a stationary strong wheel. at a high velocity and doing wheelies or ramp jumps, just how long would they last for doing the fun things real bikers like to do? this isn't a pram. lol
if you came off a jump with that and landed from a high altitude the difference in the wheel would take all of your speed away and make you fall... maybe good for a street bike. Not even close for race or terrain
well when conventional spoke rims would give much better support to the SHAPE of the wheel. If you land with to much force on this type of wheel your wheel THOUGH only for a split second will bend and contort from the force of the landing thus throwing your momentum off. But for average street riding this seems fantastic and really comfortable. But coming from a Downhill/BMX backround. i could see myself flying over the handle bars because my wheel bent more than you expected it to, when you land you expect there to be some stopping force, the only time this wheel will stop absorbing shock is when is totally miss-shapen, When your wheel isn't round, obviously it isn't going to continue to spin properly
Ever heard the saying that "proverbs were written in a certain historical context, and taking them out of that context whilst ignoring social and technological progress is useless apart from trying to be clever on the internet"? This is a neat solution to the problem of reducing unsprung mass in bike suspension, while also reducing the number of moving parts.
Luke Wren Nope. What it does is make undue loss of energy because it is constantly going to be compressed due to your weigh. The loops will be constantly compressed and uncompressed which will make the cycling experience much more arduous than it has to be. The same "suspension" affect could be replicated with large tubes not completely filled. Any experienced cyclist will tell you that hard tubes are much more efficient than soft tubes and that a simple lateral suspension would be much better than this half baked one.
Rubber is viscoelastic, so loses energy when deformed elastically. Springs generally are not. If you build a wheel that deforms the same amount as a soft tube, but it has a hard tube on it, you dissipate less energy. If you want the absolute maximum in performance then you go for a hard frame, hard wheels and tubes at max pressure, but that's not what this is for.
This wheel is just stupid. You dont need any suspension on the road and on a mountainbike where you need suspension this wheel would be absoluteley terrible.
I think folks are missing the point, the in-wheel springs give you much more horizontal suspension than regular springs could. They act like bumpers and dampen impact, which is a big problem for conventional city bikes. Plus combining the systems lowers the weight, and that makes it more novel for taking into buildings and onto buses.
I see a lot of speculation that this give in the wheel would reduce the effectiveness and efficiency of the conversion of pedal power to lateral movement. Well, it is possible to reduce these from changing the rigidity of the wheel but given the percent of error in the calculations and the moment of force needed to overcome initial rigidity in this design would make the change in efficiency of the pedal input to lateral output to be a near wash. This design would also grant you massive gains in efficiency as harsh changes in friction (or terrain) would be at least partially mitigated by this design. Also, by softening and lightening the rim you decrease fatigue and impact on the rider, thus allowing greater amounts of input energy at lower cost. So, yes these could revolutionize even racing applications with a bit more work. All that being said, there is still a major drawback and apprehension from me...a composite loop spring under pressure is one mishap from becoming a lethal projectile or at minimum a far more devastating crash than a convention wheel failure. Plastic mags were under the same exact scrutiny when first brought to BMX. They preformed well, improved performance much as I described...and actually failed much the same as I fear for Loop Wheels (albeit with less catastrophe).
ummm. .3kmh snails can almost go that fast...my apprehension was not at the speed the bike goes (which is much faster than .3km an hour...I can go well over 10km on a leisurely bike ride. A composite loop under pressure that snapps can send composite shrapnel at alarming speeds. Given the average weight and support requirements of these devices, a conservative calculation puts a piece of broken loop going over 350 feet per second. If that piece of loop is sharp, than we are looking at a composite shard penetrating clothing and skin leaving a rather nasty little wound. ...And that is the conservative estimation.
***** you are missing the point, this is not a typical wheel that will buckle. Those are actually composite springs. The original application is for folding bikes, but they are intended to be for more than just that. And even a folding bike I can pedal in excess of 10 miles per hour quite easily. You obviously know shit nothing about physics as the speed the bike goes has nothing to do with how fast a piece of shrapnel ejected from this rim system if the composite springs that support it were to lose integrity. Those ovals of composite are not spokes, they are springs: composite material under pressure to provide support in a manner that is less rigid than traditional spokes. A spoke wheel collapses because the spokes are tightened to pull in toward the center of the wheel evenly across the circumference, these use an outward force to support the wheel, not an inward force. They are very cool...but there is no way I would ride one or allow my children to ride on one without some serious documented stress tests that show worst case scenario of catastrophic failure of the wheel. Also, I have been on the wrong end of a plastic mag snapping, and the stiches in my arm were caused by the flying debris from the failed rim. I don't see the crap that flies off of this being anything less than terrifying considering it is under a load already pushing outward. Also, a smaller wheel would actually require the inner rims to have greater force per square inch on the support structure as it has to support more weight on a smaller surface area. Any attempt to model the possibilities of failure in this device after a conventional wheel is utter ignorance and complete lack of basic physical analysis. Sorry mate, I mean no offense here, but you are just plain wrong.
We...ERW did not reinvent the wheel because it was easy...We did it because it was hard. 8 utility patents more issued patent claims than any wheel in recorded history.
Interviewed by a pirate.
-Austen
+Honest Signalz Don't skip them approaches Vadim, i am waiting for more videos to learn from and finally start making approaches of my own.
+Honest Signalz Haha. Brilliant.
+1 hahahha
+Honest Signalz this comment flip me laughing!
“Where’s me rum!?”
Nice idea, but a major flaw is driving over landmines. You would be screwed with those tires if you hit a landmine.
Thats exactly what I thought, and since i happen to hit landmines once in a while these wheels might not be the best option.
WHEN WILL I EVER HIT A F**** LANDMINE
L. Love Rodriguez Hopefully never but if you do hit a landmine then these wheels aren't the best wheels to hit a landmine with.
I was hoping that there wouldn't be any but I see 2 in the replies. Sad I tell you.
I know, I hate hitting landmines when riding my bike, I was hoping this could have helped
A big loss in energy in the springs.
Not something you want on a bike
Yes, just like shock absorbers people, you know, put on their bikes.
OhFishyFish
Exactly.
That's why you can lock it full extended to avoid losing energy on roads....
You don't see shocks on roads bicycles,frames are super rigid too to avoid energy loss.
Are you talking about forward motion? Because there is no energy lost on forward or backward movement for that matter.
It takes less pressure to turn the wheel than it does to compress a wheel. If it worked the way you are thinking. The same thing would be true with spokes.
JRMCNEA
Spokes are not compressible.
the loss will ocurrs when you pump on the pedal,
michaelovitch
All metals are compressible under stress Which is why your spokes break from the compression and expansion..
Presenter Sounds like he smoked a 40 pack and ate a bag of gravel.
I'm gonna talk like this when I get into a argument with someone just to end the fight... I think it'll work :D
Abigail Anderson hello
Abigail Anderson I'm... not... sure...
Abigail Anderson :D
Um... Well join the Down Haven Mob!!!! :D
wut?
A genius and literal reinvention of the wheel. Well done, sir.
SOMEONE GIVE THIS REPORTER A CUP TEA PLEASE... TO STOP THAT SMOKY VOICE.
a 21st century wheel for a 19th century man
It sounds like he has a lot of phlegm stuck in his throat.
Kramlets Phlemm
listening to him makes my throat itch a bit.
Yeah someone should tell him to Cough!
A lot of loops stuck in this throat.
He might want to get that checked out
this presenter is bloody english as hell
+Seweryn Marcinowski and annoying as hell.
+Seweryn Marcinowski He's doing it deliberately for the camera, and being excessively annoying in the process. Trust me, I'm English.
Wrong way around. The Royal Family's specific dental situation is due to generations of inbreeding that has jumped meaning and become an English stereotype. Despite on average having beter dental care than America.
Ha!!!!
he's attempting the "bbc british voice", and failing at it so he sounds really annoying and unnatural
idk what's more annoying this or london street accents lmao
could they have chosen a more annoying reporter?
sounds like he's clearing his throat on every word
Love it! These wheels can change any bike into a full suspension, what an awesome idea!
Thing about this design is that it is incredibly inefficient. There is a reason, a very good reason, why wheels are designed to be as stiff as possible, not as shock absorbent as possible. This invention is akin to designing a triangle 'wheel' and claiming great advances in wheel stability and prevention of unwanted rolling. It simply defeats the purpose of the bicycle wheel and is a regression in technology rather than a progression.
That is also why they added suspension to bikes.
The reason is simple, suspension absorbs shocks when there is shock, and is rigid (and therefore, mechanically efficient) when there are not shocks.
A wheel that absorbs shock also tries to absorb the rotation of the wheel (it flexes 4x per rotation, like trying to ride a bicycle over speed bumps in the suspension analogy) and convert mechanical and kinetic energy into heat.
Put simply, riding with these wheels on the street is not much different than trying to ride in soft sand or on a giant mattress. Lots of work, not a lot of efficiency, low speed.
there are still major inefficiencies in full suspension with sagging while peddling and other effects, here the frame is rigid providing some compensation overlap with the inefficiency of a flexing frame, and you're just moving the suspension to the wheels which can handle hitting steep bumps much better due to the hub being able to move front to back...rather than relying on a fixed angle and bending your fork or rims. it may be real mushy compared to a hard tail or full suspension but that doesn't make it some giant mattress nightmare. using full suspension is also super expensive and heavy and just goes with the entire frame, where these can be changed to whatever bike and could have a range of stiffness for different performance. way to over simplify and denigrate the product without any clue for the target market. it's not for everybody but it's not some major regression either.
Thrashaero
Yes, that's true, but while suspension bikes absorb energy from your pedaling, this design absorbs energy not only from your pedaling but also when coasting.
Moreover, suspensions can be finely tuned to minimize this effect and, like Specialized's Brain, can be cleverly designed to almost completely eliminate it.
it doesn't matter, someone should perform wheel vs wheel test, then it will be evident
my thoughts exactly, as the suspension flexes the central axis shifts from center mass and makes any force applied less efficient. Certainly a more cushioned ride but it would certainly make you exert more energy
I'm kind of sure the whole kinetic energy being converted into heat is not going to be too big of a deal as long as the springs are pretty stiff. But I'm much more curious about the resonance thing, what with no damping and all.
the thing is though, that in some instances, there would be some advantage to this design, can't be price, because the spring material must be expensive, maybe weight?
The future is here and those bikes aren't. They must have hit a bump in the road.
The future is not here, we are in the present.
the video was years ago so in relation to when it came out we are in the future. d gray is right. bam
area51r Lol
premiacamaro, you're stupid.
They only sell these wheels for wheelchairs now I believe, which makes sense I guess if that market it better for them
Great. Two-hundred years of innovating and all we've got to show for it is better bicycle spokes. Where is my flying car, dammit?!
Last I checked you can't drive a plane or helicopter on the road... Grow up child.
Ian Thompson
"Grow up child"
I don't think that insult works here, assuming you don't know how FLYING CARS work, they don't use roads. They fly. The idea of a flying car is to get rid of roads. You should learn to think critically and learn better insults for specific situations, you idiot.
Sure it does, a flying car is a car that doubles as a flying machine. A personal flying craft doesn't drive on roads, because it flys... Don't think to hard on that..
Allen Hombrebueno lol
Ian Thompson lololol that would solve all of ur life problems
Two words: Suspension Forks.
The suspension springs are strangely absent in both bikes. My old bike had springs.
Usual suspensions still have a problem this wheel attempts to solve: they work only in one direction, upwards. He should try to invent better suspensions. Such a thing already exists but not in bikes. The Shinkansen has suspensions that work in two directions: upwards and sidewards. This inventors wants backwards working springs.
This journalist is literally the most British looking person I've ever seen.
2:05 he almost falls off!!!
2:40 another close one
+Leo Madero goddammit
That's completely normal, you also do that when riding, but your brain stops, and the instincts take over, and you don't even remember
Riding a bike with a soft suspension feels like running in sand every time you pump the pedal. These also look difficult to true. Look at that wobble.
I don't see a way to adjust tension based on rider weight either. And what is he on about with the "absorbs in all directions?" A standard fork absorbs the bumps in the road, I she expecting impacts on the top of the wheel?
calvin2032 He means if you hit a wall or the bike falls onto its front tyre vertically the wheel won't bend permanently.
00PiggyCosmonaut How do you hit a wall? How is your bike falling vertically on the front wheel? The tire should have enough give that it would absorb the impact. It is fine for cheap bikes that aren't going to see any real stresses in a city. It would be terrible for trail riding.
calvin2032
You clearly have never ridden fast. And it would be great for trail riding (if the wheel was bigger). If you go off a jump or mound fast and flip forward, a normal bike tyre doesn't have enough compression to handle the 70+ kilo force when it hits the ground, and will explode or fall off, leaving the rim to hit the ground directly and bend.
calvin2032 A curb can be considered a wall for a bike tire. I've seen plenty of bike rims bend and break at the weld because someone hit a curb too fast.
this is so British that tea flow out of my display
These aren't going to work! You want the wheels to be stiff, otherwise all your energy will go into bending the springs rather than moving the bike! These might be good for other things like the baby-buggy, but I think they're a really bad idea for bicycles.
My thoughts exactly. Much higher rolling resistance. But this is a city/market bike, so, who knows...
Tomo It just occurred to me, that's the reason shock absorbers are put on the forks rather than on the wheels, huh?
***** "As long as they're stiff enough"--that's my whole point. The very idea is misguided. As long as they're stiff enough---how stiff, maybe as stiff as spokes? As I said above, I had never thought about it, but that's why shock absorbers are on the forks rather than the wheels. Think about it, wheels are never squishy. Cars, motorcycles, all have rigid wheels, covered with just enough tire to grip. If you want a softer ride, no car maker in the history of the world has ever said, I know what we need--softer wheels!
I really admire these guys' drive--they had an idea and went after it. But it also shows that just because no one is doing it doesn't mean no one's thought of it.
So... You are complaining about people getting more exercise?
We are not talking about mountain bikes or long distance travel. You should be on flat surfaces for those relatively anyway. This is way more for in-city/low distance travel or dirt biking really.
You can't argue something is shit because it doesn't apply to all areas but makes many other areas better.
You don't put 30" tires on every type of bike for a reason. No single wheel works in all areas. Though the claim was a more pleasant experience and is shown in town. What's lying about that?
Regardless more exercise is never a bad thing.
JamesCizuz I wasn't aware I was complaining about anything.
If you want a better experience, shock absorbers are the way to do it. You mention a flat surface. These wheels will take a flat surface and make it feel like you're constantly riding uphill.
No one is complaining about the idea of a smoother ride. It is possible for something to be a bad idea without me criticizing or complaining about it. As I said, I really admire the guy's gumption, but this idea just wasn't a good one.
I like the concept. I love my BMX bikes. I would get this to cruise around the beach near the pier or the boardwalk on a nice sunny day.
Meanwhile at BBC: 13 killed in drone strike today in Afghanistan.
CNN hasn't been good at giving the real news.
instantdebris Darn right. Nice profile pic btw.
You should put down who did the strike. I know and you know, but some people aren't aware.
AllPro777 You are right. Killing people without due process is more than shady, but the "collateral damage" that comes with drone strikes is unacceptable.
this man sounds like he could play a super villain in a movie xD
or a pirate
Very nice Idea:) from Switzerland greetings CNN-Team
I like the fact that spokes keep the wheel round and, much like a chain, work very well. A lot of things in the world do need improvement, wheels aren't one of them.
belts are better tho
Omg your voice :/
This guys voice spooks me
Cant believe this is 7 years old. This should be everywhere by now.
Almost like it was a solution in search of a problem, instead of the other way aroiund.
"A mom once launched her baby in the air so I decided to design a bike wheel"
Having some success on wheelchairs.
0:49 LOL made him look like a idiot
an* idiot... :D
also add 2:06 for not riding a bike properly
Then tried to touch it
$1,200 a set??? I'll take the bumps and let some air out of the tire instead.
Everyone says dont reinvent the wheel . So he goes and reinvents the wheel .
Everyone says you shouldn't try to reinvent the wheel. That doesn't mean you shouldn't reinvent the wheel. That's tongue in cheek for saying "Don't fix what ain't broke".
Regardless he reinvented spokes.
I just realised the bike is 1800$ and a top quality trials bike or mountain bike is probably 2000$ for a full suspension not just a 20' wheel with a glorified trashheap steel frame on it
Desiinger Vevo You have a point, but that looks like a 16" rim to me.
I love this. I could listen to SPOKES OR LOOPS for forever
One could say... That he has reinvented the wheel.
Shoulder and wrist ache from using a conventional wheel? Having ridden bikes since I was 7, a good amount of that riding being on hills, unpaved roads or rough terrain, I can honestly say "shoulder and wrist ache" were never a factor. Sore thighs, shin splints, or a sore crotch -perhaps, but wrists and shoulders? Seems like they are reaching a bit.
The only time I ever got any pain from riding a bicycle was either from doing BMX dirt jumps, or downhill mountain biking. I understand the application of these wheels, but I don't really think they are all that necessary to be honest, and even less....revolutionary....
I mostly suffer from butt aches, but I think that just means I need a better seat.
Bicycle is the most important mode of transportation. Any development on it is useful.
Those tires are way too small, it's like using a very low gearing ratio. This will never be practical for anything other than the street. You'll need at least a 21", 27.5" or 29er.
Like you couldn't cope by changing the gear ratio of the drive train?
scowell Larger wheels still go better over uneven ground and have inherently lower rolling resistance. I suspect they don't have the properties of the springs quite right to produce normal sized wheels that are neither too wobbly in the springs nor too fragile in the rim. The latter is a big drawback of a system supporting the rim only in three points vs. the usual more than thirty of the spokes.
chainring would be larger than the bloody wheel
They make bigger wheels
folding bikes main marketing point is to be portable. not comfortable.
Man's greatest invention Upgraded and improved.
History yet again.
This has been done before but on a 26" wheel, it used proper suspension shocks as well
If only they made bike with springs and shocks, say on the front and rear wheel... oh wait.
that is a pretty good idea! you should make that a reality!
oh wait... i already own two of these.
God, Richard Quest is such a weirdo...
I really learned a lot about physics in wheels from comments section. I also appreciate this new invention but it is true that these babies will be require more efforts.
P.S. The presenter just killed the entire fun.
an amazing idea of adding suspension to the wheel without spring suspensions and not completely "jellyfying" the feel of the ride
After blowing 4 flats in the summer of '15, I went over to solid tires. Super pleased with that!
But now, my 10+ year old spokes are starting to come loose. I keep having to tighten them, but I remembered this video. I didn't look for it, but TH-cam sometimes read minds and recommended me this once again, but I guess it hasn't come that far?
Why are people so critical of this guy? I think it's an ingenious step forward for innovation. I think if there were more of those springs as spokes, this would be an amazing and smart idea. Three points of contact to the rim concerns me. It should be 5 or more. If one fails, ant least the other four or more can compensate for long enough that you go get the wheel replaced or the spring fixed.
3 points of contact ... good "point"!
I think it has more to do with his attitude. He doesn't come off as very likeable, which makes it harder for people to want to give him nearly 2 grand for his prototype.
make a 26 or 29 inch wheel and it will have tons of play horizontally. For small wheels its good but big, no chance
AeroSixWJ The reasons is in your easy rich. Why to use 3 or 5 or even more if just 1 will suffice would be cheaper more reliable, easy to change and proved itself for man many decades. This is the reason why I personally dislike it. Direction to look is mountain bike and cars etc. Ok and here is one more issue think what would happen with heavy load vehicles that used such ...... or think even bigger how about planes with this stupid weal that could brake anytime in 9 places at list. Based on the model that I saw. Could be less or more.
TheLukey21 Shouldn't you be able to adjust how much play you get, from the tension of the springs?
I like the idea, but wouldn't you need different wheels for different size people if the springs counteract your weight?
It would not be too difficult to make it so that the tension could be adjusted.
ADeviatedSeptum How?
Obvious Schism holes in the springs, and a locking set of three radial gears attached to the hub. turn it to move one end of each spring so that the tension is reduced or increased.
I want to see the guy who first braves to take it for a 40/mph downhill tryout :)
cheapest "20 single wheel costs over 300 pounds... good luck.
grimmar80 It should be easy enough to get sponsored since jumping this wheel would also promote it.
Good work. world needs people who believe in change and make it happen. thanks to the inventors like him we are enjoying the comfort we have.
@ 2:04 guy almost crashes...." a most pleasant experience.." HAHAHA
Poor aerodynamic characteristics in the frontal projection nullify all the advantages.
It's so true when your into speed and street bike racing.
***** For $1,800 bucks you can buy a decent entry level road racing bike. Know what I mean, Thefaced ?
the outer rim is not flexing . so you could run wheel covers :)
hooray for inventors that don't understand rolling resistance
They probably have engineering degrees too. Shameful.
this guys voice gave my city the first case of ebola
I love that guy's voice its amazing
With all the wind resistance on these wheels, you could generate energy! Great thinking! Just give the springs a slight angle and have people ride these things near wind turbines. You'll have enough wind to power the whole country!
This guy couldn't be more Brithish
He's not Benedict Cumberbatch. Can't get more British than that.
Yes but Cumberbatch has white straight theets
Antonio ZeroTrips
Brithish? BRITISH!
Theets? TEETH!
Holy crap.
Now make the wheels to fit a normal bike, instead of that stupid one that guy was riding.
Forgot about the video completely when I saw the Lancia Delta Evo @ 2:06
yess that was the best part of the video!
Oh my god Richard Quest is like that guy who narrates children's stories.
Sir, you have successfully reinvented the wheel.
Well done
they're literally reinventing the wheel -.- come on now
Contrast ERW against all other "Next Gen" wheels or tires. A new patented mechanical wheel. Negative pressure...Vacuum powered, secure at the highest speeds. High frequency in wheel suspension is anti bounce.
***** lmao
WE realized that for ERW we needed to limit the linear displacement to that of a tall tire body. IE a 29" hoop paired with a 26" wheel.
Time to reboot.
Have you seen our ERW bicycle videos? High speed airless is the future.
It is refreshing to find such an open mind!
Ничто не сравнится с надувной покрышкой. Уж сколько лет (лет сто) её пытаются на что-нибудь заменить, но всё безуспешно. Все эти лжепокрышки поглощают энергию, которая велосипедисту очень нужна.
Использовать как рессоры - вопрос спорный, т.к колесо никогда не будет отцентровано, ведь ось вращения смещается вниз.
Короче, херня это всё на постном масле...
how are people hating on the man's voice? sounds silly, but also amazing, especially paired with that accent
Keith, a person clearly at the top of his game, seems like a nice chap- an expletive in every sentence.
Why is a Victorian era theatre actor interviewing the designer?
That doesn't exactly seem like the type of bike to use when testing out the capabilities of that wheel.
This won't catch up - the springs have huge drag because of their area hitting the air right on. The inventor really should add some aerodynamic casings on the springs, as well as get rid of his greed and cut the price or he'll end up another butthurt homeless "genius".
***** I didn't give any arbitrary guess, this is simple knowledge about what a plane placed perpendicularly to flow does. The lift is off topic, the problem here is about braking force, any possible lift won't do anything because of wheels. And just for reference, there is a tweak for wires: A plastic dish attached to each side of the wires. This has the pitfall of tearing the rider sideways with wind though.
Do you people even ride bikes???? I am concerned about the stiffness... throwing your bike into a banked curve down a mountain I dont see these things perform or even hold up. These things wouldnt even work properly on a full suspension bike.
Great concept, but it's nullified due to the tiny wheels. That part of his bike is counterproductive to a smooth ride.
Richard Quest is one heck of a character.
Damn, can he clear his throat already!?
it sways left and right a bit which is definitely unsafe.
He has the exact opposite of a voice good for a video. It frustrated me to listen to him. God dammit! CNN please think about who is doing what..
Idk but may stop extreme sports wheels snap when casing or running at low psi, but the patent will stop it taking off.
4 years developing that? DAMN.
Just because they have give doesn't mean it takes more effort. When the spring on the bottom is being compressed, the other two are also pulling back upward. With spokes you're mainly being supported by the ones on the lower half of the wheel. It's not going to feel like you're riding on flat tires which is what people seem to be thinking. All three loops are working at all times. They're also set with high enough tension that they should provide the same level of support as spokes. They just distribute the weight around the wheel differently
Actually normal bikes are supported by the top spokes, not the bottom ones. The spokes are in tension.
OMG I really hate that presenter !!!!!!!!
What a tosser ay?
indeed !
why does he talk like that?
I like his voice it is unique.
excellent vertical compliance and lateral rigidity
I wonder who the "spokesperson" of this company is.
+Skoda130 i see what you did there smooth
I suppose he is a springperson now.
The interviewer sounds like he needs more expectorant or less whiskey...or both.
Jeez I'm sick of these half-ass solutions to non-problems by idiots, that solve nothing and make the bicycle worse. The buggy that threw the kid out - ok, the wheels are very small, so a kerb stops a buggy dead if the parent isn't concentrating enough on protecting the life of their kid. Most bike wheels aren't going to experience such an impact except in a bad accident, like hitting a tree or wall. Now, being able to provide suspension in all directions (it only required forward as well as up and down anyway) has the big disadvantage that the suspension is activated constantly at all different points around the circumference of the wheel as it turns, just with the weight of the bike and rider, which I believe will cause significant increase in energy loss. Whereas normal suspension (springs in forks or rubber blocks at key points, etc.) are only activated when you go over bumps, the hub of this wheel will always be pushed down below the centre, so as it turns each of the leaf springs is compressed and released constantly. The rubber and compressability of the air in your tyres does the same thing, and anyone with varied cycling experience knows how much more efficient cycling is on hard tyres than on soft bouncy ones. Indeed, exactly the same advantage of all-round suspension would be obtained by fitting big fat tyres, with the same disadvantage. To the extent this provides the supposed advantage, it turns pedal power into dissipated heat. Just don't ride into trees, is my advice, and strap kids into their buggies if you want to bang them into kerbs.
but just think of the sick leg muscles you'll develop though
Better to do that with higher volume tires, and gain more pothole snake-bite resistance, then you build those sick leg muscles more because you're continuing to ride instead of stopping to fix a flat or call a mate to give you a lift home.
cool idea. looks really nice especially if you had regular shocks too!
love his voice!
Does anyone else find Richard Quest to be a complete buffoon? His act is to stand out by acting weird. I can't stand the act, because I have heard he isn't like that at all in real life - there is not a jot of sincerity or intelligent analysis in this man.
What happens when the center of rotation moves due to the springs? Wouldn't that make it unstable?
Yes! I was just about to post this.
not only that, but if one of the springs does bend you'd have to change the whole rim
Think back to newtonian physics and the T=rxF equations. Remeber T and F are both vectors. Kind of fun if you do the translation and remember the force is changing and the radius :)
strong and sturdy wins the race... all the force on those loops versus a stationary strong wheel. at a high velocity and doing wheelies or ramp jumps, just how long would they last for doing the fun things real bikers like to do? this isn't a pram. lol
Why are the wheels so tiny xD
if you came off a jump with that and landed from a high altitude the difference in the wheel would take all of your speed away and make you fall... maybe good for a street bike. Not even close for race or terrain
can't see the difference with spring fork.
You don't have much of a grasp of physics then.
thats why i commented - to get explanation.
well when conventional spoke rims would give much better support to the SHAPE of the wheel. If you land with to much force on this type of wheel your wheel THOUGH only for a split second will bend and contort from the force of the landing thus throwing your momentum off. But for average street riding this seems fantastic and really comfortable. But coming from a Downhill/BMX backround. i could see myself flying over the handle bars because my wheel bent more than you expected it to, when you land you expect there to be some stopping force, the only time this wheel will stop absorbing shock is when is totally miss-shapen, When your wheel isn't round, obviously it isn't going to continue to spin properly
"and contort from the force of the landing thus throwing your momentum off" - just as with a spring fork.
This guy literally reinvented the wheel. LOL
This is pretty smart BTW.
I like this man's Pirate voice.
That's just stupid, so much energy is being wasted.
Ever heard the saying "never reinvent the wheel"? And "if it ain't broke don't fix it"?
Ever heard the saying that "proverbs were written in a certain historical context, and taking them out of that context whilst ignoring social and technological progress is useless apart from trying to be clever on the internet"? This is a neat solution to the problem of reducing unsprung mass in bike suspension, while also reducing the number of moving parts.
Luke Wren Nope. What it does is make undue loss of energy because it is constantly going to be compressed due to your weigh. The loops will be constantly compressed and uncompressed which will make the cycling experience much more arduous than it has to be. The same "suspension" affect could be replicated with large tubes not completely filled. Any experienced cyclist will tell you that hard tubes are much more efficient than soft tubes and that a simple lateral suspension would be much better than this half baked one.
Rubber is viscoelastic, so loses energy when deformed elastically. Springs generally are not.
If you build a wheel that deforms the same amount as a soft tube, but it has a hard tube on it, you dissipate less energy.
If you want the absolute maximum in performance then you go for a hard frame, hard wheels and tubes at max pressure, but that's not what this is for.
This wheel is just stupid. You dont need any suspension on the road and on a mountainbike where you need suspension this wheel would be absoluteley terrible.
A lot of people over here reveling in their own ignorance. Oh, I almost forgot, this is TH-cam
hey! quit using logic what do you think this is, real life?
@m ・ ́ω・ I think what he meant isn't auditory - it's the vibrations you feel when driving down a cement pavement. Not 100% sure though.
makes sense. gives omnidirectional suspension in 2 axis in a cheap, simplistic solution.
I think folks are missing the point, the in-wheel springs give you much more horizontal suspension than regular springs could. They act like bumpers and dampen impact, which is a big problem for conventional city bikes. Plus combining the systems lowers the weight, and that makes it more novel for taking into buildings and onto buses.
I see a lot of speculation that this give in the wheel would reduce the effectiveness and efficiency of the conversion of pedal power to lateral movement. Well, it is possible to reduce these from changing the rigidity of the wheel but given the percent of error in the calculations and the moment of force needed to overcome initial rigidity in this design would make the change in efficiency of the pedal input to lateral output to be a near wash. This design would also grant you massive gains in efficiency as harsh changes in friction (or terrain) would be at least partially mitigated by this design. Also, by softening and lightening the rim you decrease fatigue and impact on the rider, thus allowing greater amounts of input energy at lower cost. So, yes these could revolutionize even racing applications with a bit more work. All that being said, there is still a major drawback and apprehension from me...a composite loop spring under pressure is one mishap from becoming a lethal projectile or at minimum a far more devastating crash than a convention wheel failure. Plastic mags were under the same exact scrutiny when first brought to BMX. They preformed well, improved performance much as I described...and actually failed much the same as I fear for Loop Wheels (albeit with less catastrophe).
ummm. .3kmh snails can almost go that fast...my apprehension was not at the speed the bike goes (which is much faster than .3km an hour...I can go well over 10km on a leisurely bike ride. A composite loop under pressure that snapps can send composite shrapnel at alarming speeds. Given the average weight and support requirements of these devices, a conservative calculation puts a piece of broken loop going over 350 feet per second. If that piece of loop is sharp, than we are looking at a composite shard penetrating clothing and skin leaving a rather nasty little wound. ...And that is the conservative estimation.
***** you are missing the point, this is not a typical wheel that will buckle. Those are actually composite springs. The original application is for folding bikes, but they are intended to be for more than just that. And even a folding bike I can pedal in excess of 10 miles per hour quite easily. You obviously know shit nothing about physics as the speed the bike goes has nothing to do with how fast a piece of shrapnel ejected from this rim system if the composite springs that support it were to lose integrity. Those ovals of composite are not spokes, they are springs: composite material under pressure to provide support in a manner that is less rigid than traditional spokes. A spoke wheel collapses because the spokes are tightened to pull in toward the center of the wheel evenly across the circumference, these use an outward force to support the wheel, not an inward force. They are very cool...but there is no way I would ride one or allow my children to ride on one without some serious documented stress tests that show worst case scenario of catastrophic failure of the wheel. Also, I have been on the wrong end of a plastic mag snapping, and the stiches in my arm were caused by the flying debris from the failed rim. I don't see the crap that flies off of this being anything less than terrifying considering it is under a load already pushing outward. Also, a smaller wheel would actually require the inner rims to have greater force per square inch on the support structure as it has to support more weight on a smaller surface area. Any attempt to model the possibilities of failure in this device after a conventional wheel is utter ignorance and complete lack of basic physical analysis. Sorry mate, I mean no offense here, but you are just plain wrong.
***** sure but the loopwheel definitely doesn't weigh more than a a spoked wheel and regular suspension combined weight
dat freaky cancer voice tho... lol
We...ERW did not reinvent the wheel because it was easy...We did it because it was hard. 8 utility patents more issued patent claims than any wheel in recorded history.
His voice is... unique.
Best part is that once you're done riding it folds up and fits nicely in your briefcase.