Skatecycle

The Skatecycle, also known as the "Freerider Skatecycle", is the world's first mass-produced hubless, self-propelled skate.^[1] Invented and patented by Alon Karpman, the Skatecycle is manufactured by Brooklyn Workshop, Inc. based in Brooklyn, New York. Unlike most traditional skateboards, the user does not need to continuously push off the ground to gain and maintain speed. The Skatecycle marks the first time a hub-less machine has been mass-produced, and it is now part of the permanent collection at the Henry Ford Museum^[2] and the Bicycle Museum of America.

Design

The Skatecycle contains a double-jointed twisting axle connected to two standing platforms surrounded by 9" polyurethane wheels. A hubless wheel is present on both sides of the axle. In order to engage the unit, the rider needs to twist their feet inwards and outwards.^[3] The Skatecycle measures 32" x 6.5" x 8.5″ (LWH) in dimension and weights 7 1/4 lbs.

Awards

Core 77 Design Awards: Runner Up (Professional Notable) ^[4]

Bronze 2010 IDEA award in the transportation category (as part of this award, the Skatecycle became part of the permanent collection at the Henry Ford Museum).

^[5]

Notes

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Sunday, July 06, 2014. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.