Here’s another idea who’s time may have arrived… or not.
It’s best described as a hooped-frame bicycle. Instead of a rear fork protruding downward from the saddle area, it has a the rear wheel mounted at the bottom of a round hoop. The concept is simple. When the wheel rides over a pothole or other impediment, the hoop has a lot more give than a straight rode, even one made up of aluminum of a carbon resin.
It looks like this:
It’s the creation of a Canadian Cyclist, Lou Tortola, who calls the bike (not surprisingly) the Tortola Roundtail road bicycle.
The blog Gizmag reports that the inventor feels that the bicycle gives a smoother ride, indeed it can absorb about 60% more road shock than a conventional frame, and may be more aerodynamic. The bicycle prototype has been laboratory tested and found to be strong and stable.
However, the blog also points out that a frame that flexes may absorb a lot of leg power, and it does weight more than a standard frame.
So, as Chris wrote: “The best invention since sliced bread ? … or just a solution looking for a problem ?”
