sciencetech-blog

comments

It's the ideal solution for commuters - a full size bicycle which fits into a bag and is assembled in less than ten minutes.

Commuters struggling to fit their fold-up bikes on trains will instead be able to carry a normal-sized bike to work with them in a small backpack the size of a tyre.

On arrival, all they need to do is attach the various aluminium hollow tubes together from simple twist joints - including the wheels.

Commuter's dream:  This full-size prototype bicycle fits into a bag and is assembled in under ten minutes

And the chain is different to most bikes in that it uses a rubber belt drive system reinforced with carbon, while to brake you simply stop pedalling.

Amit Mirchandani, a creative director at Indian creative agency Lucid Design, helped come up with the design because he wanted to make a full-size but compact carrying bike.

The result is the Kit Bike - designed to take out the awkward nature of fold-up bikes.

Mr Mirchandani, 35, said: 'Conventional bikes are awkward in every way except when you ride them.

Twist and lock: Commuters struggling to fit their fold-up bikes on trains will instead be able to carry a normal-sized bike to work with them in a small backpack the size of a tyre (left). The prototype Kit Bike is put together by attaching the various aluminium hollow tubes using simple twist joints (right)

Storage: Each wheel is stored in a separate section of the bag, separate from the remaining 19 parts

'We thought what if there was a bike that was so small, it fit into a bag you could carry as a backpack?

'What if when you assembled the bike, you got a full-size bike that was comfortable to ride?

'We felt we could make one simple, minimal and cool - unlike folding bikes that tend to be complex in their engineering and construction.

'The Kit Bike was designed to do all these things and make problems of shipping and travelling with a bike a thing of the past.'

The Kit Bike consists of simple twist joints that lock with aluminium hollow tubes using a specially designed key.

The entire bike can be assembled from the leather bag or dismantled from one side making the process extremely simple and quick.

Each wheel is stored in a separate section of the bag, while the remaining 19 parts caters for the hollow tubing, seat, handlebars and chain.

Mr Mirchandani, from Bangalore, India, said: 'Assembly and disassembly would take 10 minutes or less.

'At the moment it's still a prototype so we are not sure how much it will be to buy but it should weight similar to most aluminium bikes.'

Pedal power: The chain uses a rubber belt drive system made of carbon, while to brake you stop pedalling

Early stage: Designer Mr Mirchandani, from Bangalore, said: 'At the moment it's still a prototype so we are not sure how much it will be to buy but it should weight similar to most aluminium bikes'

Final design: Amit Mirchandani, a creative director at Indian creative agency Lucid Design, helped come up with the design because he wanted to make a full-size but compact carrying bike