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14R
09-22-06, 12:51 AM
Design approved, apparently available Oct. 08

http://www.rijwielpaleis.nl/nieuws/PLAATJE/jackknife-01.jpg

http://www.probike.be/IMG/jpg/JACKKNIFE1.jpg

http://archive.cardesignnews.com/features/2005/051229elisava-show/images/1-elisava05-8998s.jpg
LittlePixel
09-22-06, 06:02 AM
Without the Spin wheels. That saddle is a little crazy it has to be said. Looks liable to flex/loosen pretty easily.
SoonerLater
09-22-06, 07:19 AM
WOW. What a smokin cool lookin design. Straight from Star Wars. Where do I sign?

That saddle is a little crazy it has to be said. Looks liable to flex/loosen pretty easily.

At least with a company like Canondale, you can be sure that (1) it's been throroughly tested and (2) if users do start experiencing failures, Canondale will get all over this like white on rice to fix it. A saddle failure on this design could result in serious injury. Canondale is just too big to take chances. If anything, the saddle hardware is probably over-engineered and heavier than need be.
SoonerLater
09-22-06, 07:40 AM
Read more at treehugger (http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/02/cannondale_jack.php).

I didn't even notice the lack of a chain until I read that it is HYDRAULIC DRIVE.
caotropheus
09-22-06, 09:38 AM
How will cannondale put brakes on that thing?
bookishboy
09-22-06, 10:47 AM
The Hydraulic Drive is what caught my attention too. I'm curious to see how this performs, though unfortunately it'll be some time before we find out how the long-term durability of the drive is... Have there been any hydraulic drive bikes in production before this?
SoonerLater
09-22-06, 11:17 AM
How will cannondale put brakes on that thing?

I can only guess that it is single speed, fixed gear...er... static fluid...er... um. Just back-pedal to brake the silly thing.
14R
09-22-06, 11:40 AM
If you take a closer look at the frame, you will see a second "rail" under the first one used by the seatpost. It seems to me the seat would have another support, making a triangular structure instead of an "L" floating and supported by one screw.

For the brakes, all you have to do is think, in English, "stop".
caotropheus
09-22-06, 11:45 AM
The Hydraulic Drive is what caught my attention too. I'm curious to see how this performs, though unfortunately it'll be some time before we find out how the long-term durability of the drive is... Have there been any hydraulic drive bikes in production before this?

Probably the movement transmition is like a hidraulic cluch.
geo8rge
09-22-06, 12:11 PM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydraulic_bicycle

For Dahon, Shimano and others a 'Disruptive technology'? Unlike chain drive tandems, hydraulic bikes would not need to have riders in a line. If it has a way to store hydraulic pressure you could in theory 'save' energy on flat or down hill for use later going up hill. Regenerative braking is possible.

Is there a press release?
Bacciagalupe
09-22-06, 01:38 PM
Wow, talk about proprietary parts. ;)

I'm sure this bike will be a nice conversation piece, but I doubt it will be all that practical. It even looks heavy as a truck. But it's probably best to wait until it moves from "vaporbikeware" into actual production before saying too much about it....
Dahon.Steve
09-22-06, 01:43 PM
I think that design for the extended seat post is exactly what the Strida should implement on their bikes. Cannondale should just forget about Hydraulic Drive and use a polished hub gear like the Nexus 8. I would also remove the Airshock on the front wheel because that bottoms out on hills after extended use and allow the use of a Brooks Champion flyer or maybe make their own spring saddle. I don't know how comfortable that saddle is but I don't feel great about being stuck the OEM brand.
jur
09-22-06, 06:10 PM
I wonder how saddle height is adjusted. If moving up and down that main tube, then fore-aft postion is screwed up, one of the most important fit issues.
geo8rge
09-23-06, 09:06 AM
It looks like the seat moves back and forth on that arm.

The arm may be spring loaded or flexible to act as a shock.

The question in my mind is the hydraulic thing. If that works it could be curtains for chain drives on everything except racing bikes. In theory you could store energy both from braking and cranking. This could really change alot.

Gears are a bit of a problem. All I can figure out is you could have a system with mutiple pistons. In other words when you turn the crank you would able to chose how many pistons you want to send fluid to. I suspect the first version is a one speed.

BTW, I do not see brakes on that thing so it may actually brake regeneratively through the drive system.