Information Regarding ElliptiGO – The Seatless Bike

The ElliptiGO, a seatless bike that emulates running, will probably be launched at the beginning of 2010 after many years in development.

As an alternative to pedals, the ElliptiGO has 2 platforms on what you stand and press to provide the drive to the crank.

Its originator, Bryan Pate, developed the idea after losing a chance to run to keep fit through hip and knee injuries. He wanted to carry on working out but found the riding position over a conventional bike uncomfortable and didn?t want to be on a gym-style, stationary elliptical fitness machines.

Specification includes Shimano Alfine 8-speed gearing, aluminium frame and carbon fibre cranks. Claimed weight is 37 pounds (less than 17kg), and it\’ll retail at US$1,999.

It is not just targeted at runners seeking a \’low-impact\’ alternative though – Pate told BikeRadar that this reaction from cyclists was much more enthusiastic than expected: \”We are positioning the ElliptiGO to interest general fitness enthusiasts and exclusively current or former runners. Our initial data were that hardcore bicyclists would not be interested.\”

\”My co-founder (Brent Teal) and i also are both former Ironman triathletes, so we\’ve spent thousands of miles within the saddle on road and tri bikes and also done a lot of mountain biking. We believed that cyclists would treat an ElliptiGO rider like they actually do a recumbent-rider – either ignore him or make a snide comment. To our surprise, many cyclists are already really receptive towards the idea. We\’ve found out that greater difficult the ride/event were on, the harder supportive cyclists are. Regarding our customers, to date about 50 % describe themselves as \’general fitness enthusiasts\’, with regards to a quarter describe themselves as runners and also the other quarter as cyclists.\”

Pate stressed what he experienced were the advantages of the ElliptiGO after completing the big event: \”Other cyclists begin to see the sized the bike it comes with there isn\’t any seat plus they conclude it must be much more hard to climb on than their 16-pound Roubaix or Madone. The fact remains, the ElliptiGO is heavy, nonetheless it climbs rather well and the lack of a seat ensures that 6 or 7 hours in to the ride bodies are still really comfortable and comfortable. At the end of the ride i was a lot less \’beat up\’ when compared to a conventional cyclist is and much better off than someone who went running for too long enough to have the same exercise benefits.\”

He also sees widespread commuter / urban appeal to the seatless machine, if they can reduce the list price, stressing three major advantages over conventional bikes:

The rider is better able to check out his surroundings because his type of sight is nearly never blocked by cars or other objects. As an end result, he is more prone to go to a potential hazard earlier and thus have more time to cure it. This allows such a better feeling of security on urban roads as the rider feels more in charge of his area plus more empowered. Plus, within the inland northwest better feelings than looking recorded on the motive force of your Hummer when pulling up to a stoplight. The upright riding posture also makes the rider significantly more visible to motorists, cyclists and pedestrians, rendering it more unlikely that they may hit him. Due to the configuration in the pedaling system and deficiency of a seat, the ElliptiGO is more effective for folks wearing non-cycling attire. Deficiency of a seat ensures that there is absolutely no wet seat to sit down on plus it ensures that women can wear skirts or dresses not having them get all bunched up or exposing themselves around the world. We didn\’t realise that was a problem, however we\’ve had lots of women mention it. Also, for the reason that chain is out of the way and there is no structural member above the plane of the pedaling motion, nothing is there to soil suits or jeans.

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