Comments on: Photos: Bike design works the angles

The Shift, from industrial designers at Purdue, angles its wheels to match the speed at which you pedal.

Was it REALLY thought through??

I like the idea of this bike. It gives kids the added independence to be able to decide for themselves when the time is really right to ditch the training wheels. Question is, what happens when the bike slows down again? Does the third wheel go back on the floor? i like a laugh at other people's expense as much as the next (honest) person, but nobody likes to see a kid deck it off a bike.... unless they've been a pain beforehand.

Yes. Was your question?

The third wheel doesn't lift off the floor. Thus, it doesn't return to the floor when the bike slows down.

The two rear wheels are angled outward to provide a wide stance at low speeds. At the speed increases, the wheels angle to provide a narrower stance.

At the highest speeds, the read wheels angle inward enough that where they touch the ground, they're close enough to present a track width close to that of a normal bike.

When slowing down, the rear wheels splay outward again, naturally, and keep the bike upright automatically.

While this much seemed obvious from the pictures, maybe an animation would have helped their presentation.

was this thought out?

Yeah! It's way cool, very clearly described and photographed.
Intuitive, I can't believe no one thought of this before.

Where can I buy one for my nephew?!

Amy

I want to purchase this bike!!!

Where/when may I purchase this bike?

Thank You! Tom