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Kickstarter Roundedup: Ergo Carbon Universal Bike, Customizable Combination Handlebar Bell Light, and the Oooctopushy

Written by Saris Mercanti
16 Comments
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Universal Bike FrameThe Universal Bike is versatile frame that can be adjusted easily to fit 99% of the population, and can be further modified to offer different riding experiences. Made from carbon, it promises to offer a comfortable ride, and help get more people out riding as a result.

Universal Bike Fit AppMost standard bikes are only available in six different sizes, but this one-size-fits all bike uses user sourced measurements to create the perfect fit.
One Bike Many Styles Universal Bikes

We’re not so sure the comparison between a high end Trek road bike and the Universal Bike is a fair one..One Bike Many Styles Universal Bikes 2

We’re not so sure about this comparison either…

Their easy adjust system allows you to adjust the seatube and headtube angle, top tube length, and handlebar/seat height easily, to get a good baseline fit, and dial in your preferred riding characteristics.

Backers have already pledged $4,066 towards the ultimate goal of $25,000. Frame and fork start at $895, and complete offerings top out at $1,695. Visit the Kickstarter page here

My Bell

Loud & Bright Kickstarter Light 2

The My Bell is a customizable accessory that combines both the features of a handlebar light and a bell, which helps free up room on your handlebars, and reduces the amount of things you need to carry.

Loud & Bright Kickstarter Light

Unlike a traditional copper bell though, you can load your own sounds, to get the attention of others.

So far, they’ve hit $20,465 of their $90,000 goal. You can get a My Bell starting at $99, back them here.

Oo0ctopushy Oo0ctopushy Kickstarter 2

Grip it and hold it, the oooctopushy is a dual sided suction cup system that allows you to mount items almost anywhere.
Oo0ctopushy Kickstarter Trimmed
For specific locations and products, you can also trim the product down to size.Oo0ctopushy Kickstarter

Or double them up to hold larger/heavier objects.

£7 is all it takes to the back the project, and they’ve achieved £2,221 of their £5,000 pledge. There are 35 days left in the project, back them here.

 
Saris Mercanti
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Darryn
Darryn
10 years ago

I’m quite drunk, so I’ll concede in advance that I may be wrong, but that adjustable carbon bike is totally stupid.

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Mark
Mark
10 years ago

Am I the only one turned on by the name oooctopushy?

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frank
frank
10 years ago

No. Your a right with the frame. Nobody will ever change his bike from one type to another. Whats the idea? That one day you decide you want a MTB instead of your road-bike and start changing everything except the frame? Fits to 99% of people? never! And for that price you can buy 2 frames anyway…

And that ‘my bell’? Best idea ever. Who doesn’t want a truck horn on his bike BUT that size? Are you kidding me? You need to carry a bag for this thing alone…

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Nash
Nash
10 years ago

@ Darryn
I am completely sober and you are completely correct, it is totally stupid. Bet it handles like an adjustable set square

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joe
joe
10 years ago

So we can at last own a bell that goes “Ahem! Excuse me please! Thank you very much, have a nice day!”

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justanotherguy
justanotherguy
10 years ago

Make that adjustable bike steel and sub $500 and its the greatest kids bike ever

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Topmounter
Topmounter
10 years ago

That Uni Bike might make sense as a rideable bike to enhance the pro bike fit process. Maybe.

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aaron
aaron
10 years ago

I think the bike might be useful for custom builders or their stocking dealers. a custom is a big purchase and for someone who is buying their first, or someone looking to change geo, might find it useful to test the feel of the geometry. admittedly there are material and component differences that affect ride quality, but it might help someone who is particular with geometry, or needs special geo for other reasons and does not want to chance that the final frame is off.

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llikeoptions
llikeoptions
10 years ago

l think its kinda cool. Sometimes you dont always know what you want until the options appear.

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Alex
Alex
10 years ago

This bike would be awesome for shops that rent cruisey bikes. But it’s definitely not one size fits all. Maybe one size fits most.

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Slow Joe Crow
Slow Joe Crow
10 years ago

This carbon fiber adjustable bike would seem a lot more clever if the Bike Friday OSATA steel adjustable bike didn’t already exist at an estimated price of less than $800 for a complete bike from an actual manufacturer instead of a kickstarter campaign.
The cleverest thing in this roundup is the oooctopushy suction cup thing, which is basically sticking two non-slip shower mats together. That’s still an insightful adaptation if existing stuff and its utility seems limited only by the suction cups’ inherent need for a smooth surface to stick to .

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'Ol 'Shel
'Ol 'Shel
10 years ago

Sadly, bad bike ideas get the big money investment. Arantix, anyone?

Having lots of money is not a sign of intelligence.

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Gunnstein
Gunnstein
10 years ago

Universal bike: While I agree to some degree that “Comfort has been that piece of the equation that’s been missing in the design of the bicycle” (apart from recumbents), I must say that “the first ergonomic bike” might be taking the marketing spin a bit far.

Electric horns are sadly banned on bikes here in the last communist state of Europe a.k.a. Norway. Conventional bells only.

Octopushhhh looks like a nice product, but what’s it got to do with cycling? I’m not going to attach my phone to the bars with suction cups…

Not that I mind quirky kickstarter writeups like this. Keep them coming!

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Gunnstein
Gunnstein
10 years ago

Universal bike: “According to the “Pedestrian & Bicycle Information Center”, 0.5% of Americans use a bicycle on a regular basis”

That’s very sad.

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Gunnstein
Gunnstein
10 years ago

Universal bike: As one who has trouble fitting conventional bikes, I applaud the effort. Many good points: Compatible with front & rear racks, drive belts, disk brakes and fat tires. Works with IG hubs, singlespeed and fixed. Light weight (6.8 kg singlespeed claimed). Being able to mess around with head tube and seat tube angles is great for bike nerding. Rather cheap for all it offers.

Though IMHO it doesn’t outweight the negatives: 24″ wheels max. Limited tire selection in 24″. No apparent fender mounts. Lots of bolts that could come loose and lead to catastrophic failure (in addition to those any bike has). Unknown quality. Derailer gearing requires custom mounts. Rear disk brake and track ends is a bad combination.

As for fit, one can replace stems, bars, saddles, posts, grips, pedals etc on stock bikes, and when even that isn’t enough for ergonomics there is always recumbents. Though if I was an aspiring bike builder I would buy right away!

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AverageJoe
AverageJoe
10 years ago

I like the concept of the adjustable bike, but with all those bolts holding it together you would need to constantly tighten them, most likely daily. Most consumers would over tighten them and damage the carbon. I can barely keep from over cranking the heck out of my seat post clamp so it will not fall down while I ride, let alone if the frame could adjust. If they made it to where it could be locked in that the desired position not just tighten a bolt it might work.

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