Feb 7 2008Oh Nuh-Uh: Man Makes Folding Bike Wheel
Duncan Fitzsimmons has developed a folding bicycle wheel. That's him in the picture. Yeah, the one holding the folded wheel over his head. Duncan is working with bike part manufacturers to develop a "a really high end city bike or courier bike that can fold up into a package like a golf bag, which could go into an overhead rack on a train or go into a plane locker." Damn, that would be one hell of a folding bike. I want to see it happen. But I want it small enough to fit under my tophat. That way I can score a gig doing magic shows for birthday parties. "Okay kiddies, for my next trick I'm going to pull a bike out of my hat. But before this trick I need to ask if any of your mothers are single and lonely. Okay, one of you-- can you point her out to me? Listen kid, I can't tell if you're pointing to the ugly one in the purple or the one in orange with the righteous chest poodles. The orange? Really? Shows over kids, go get some cake."
Another picture and a video of the wheel in action after the jump.
Crossbreed Folding Bicycle Wheel [ohgizmo]
Reader Comments
1. guate6 - February 7, 2008 6:49 PM
Very nice and very cool concept...but why is it being tested on a mountain bike? It's supposed to be for a road bike...they handle differently. It'd suck to take a jump with the mountain bike and have the wheel collapse on them.
My bike wheels are $200 apiece...if this one is less...I'd consider it.
2. bicyclerider - February 7, 2008 9:05 PM
This thing can't be that light, and my road racing wheels cost about $750 each bradn new (thank goodness for gifts from rich friends), so maybe if they are light enough and between the afore mentioned $200 - and my $750
3. bicyclerider - February 7, 2008 9:06 PM
I would love to test ride these things though.... maybe put them on a folding bike, that fits in a backpack...
4. guate6 - February 7, 2008 9:21 PM
I see what you're saying about the weight...also, I think I know what wheels you're talking about (material-wise)...I love carbon and will one day, get a racing bike...for now, my 2007 Trek Portland is fine since it's everything I need.
5. wheel-king - February 8, 2008 12:55 AM
My normal racing wheels are about $4200 each. Saving up that much dough takes a lot cold, lonely nights working at the Burger King. If these wheels are less than that, I'll buy them and maybe I can then afford to get my GED, because convertable wheels are cool and I've always wanted to be a transformer.
6. guate6 - February 8, 2008 1:37 AM
What, pray-tell, wheels do you get for $4200?
7. butterbee - February 8, 2008 2:35 AM
I would only consider these wheels if they cost at least $4201.
I took the case off my last bike and modded it with a walk-in shell. The rent for the finished bike is $386.66 per month. I also installed a bed in the new casing so I can sleep in there too.
8. ronginald_usa - February 8, 2008 2:53 AM
that's the same wheel... it just fold up! Look at second picture! rippppppofff
9. Jeezy - February 8, 2008 8:27 AM
I saw these in Shanghai last year. Well, not exactly these, but very similar in style. They were about the equivalent of $100 US each, and a lot of people had them. Everyone rides a bike down there.
10. PB&J - February 8, 2008 12:08 PM
@6. What, pray-tell, wheels do you get for $4200?
Wheels that shave 5.27 milliseconds off your daily commute...and a serious case of buyer's remorse.
11. guate6 - February 9, 2008 2:55 AM
#10: I hear ya.
12. Reub - July 22, 2009 8:15 AM
How do you true these wheels if they buckle?? How the heck does the manufacturer build them true...
13. louis vuitton - September 29, 2009 5:42 AM
Wheels that shave 5.27 milliseconds off your daily commute...and a serious case of buyer's remorse.