The Commuter
Have you ever looked at old Sci-fi movies, drawings, caricatures, news articles etc. that show their idea of the future? They always seem more exciting than today’s ideas. Do you want hoverboards and self-lacing shoes or an alexa-connected-carbon-neutral-vegan toothbrush that informs you of today’s uv-index, is sustainably sourced and comes for free with your Disney+ subscription?......
….Exactly!
….Exactly!
In that vein…let’s talk E-bike design and drop the E.
Since we’re dropping batteries and motors (because environment and stuff): The wide range transmission of this vehicle allows for enough torque in any situation and the whole bike comes in at 20lbs. (9kg), opening sufficient dynamic abilities.
Added to the lively acceleration comes an upright seating position for comfort, an extremely light and stiff front end for effortless manoeuvrability and wide 30psi tires to even out road imperfections.
Visually I always like to contrast the wheels to the rest of the machine as they are the main moving components on any bike. This time I’ve brightened them up as a reference to white sidewall tires popularised in the 1930s.
Speaking of old times: Captain America's shield. A little visual nod to bringing old, sophisticated ideas into modern times.
Even though I’ve always been interested in technology, I’ve never been an early adopter of it. I don’t see the point. Old and refined beats new and unproven. Rieu on a Stradivari sounds better than a toddler on Fisher-Price. In the end, bikes are going electric much like cars do. Not necessarily a bad trend. There is no cure for progress and there shouldn’t be. Anything old was once new.
A day may come where I’ll build an e-bike. But it’s not this day. I hope that echoes for a while.
