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Video: SPiNe Bike Uses Flexible Top Tube as Lock

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The video’s a bit hokey, but get the benefits of the design in the first and last 40 seconds if you’re crunched for time.

Industrial Designer Ronen Spector, who has several interesting bike mockups on his website, created the SPiNe bike with a flexible lock as the top tube. When locked around a pole, the bike is unrideable. Put it back in place and tighten it down and you have a perfectly functional commuter.

We know, we know, try to cut the lock and the bike’s toast, but we’re guessing the confusing appearance would thwart would be thieves. And as always, it’s just plain neat to see different approaches to problem solving.

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Harrison
Harrison
12 years ago

I like how it shows the guy put in ear buds and proceed to ride down the sidewalk without a helmet. If bike commuters have a real problem, it’s guys like this – not keeping their bikes locked up properly.

Turbofrog
Turbofrog
12 years ago

I would say he probably picked the wrong tube to make flexible – the downtube only sees almost entirely tensile loads (think Slingshot or Puma, where the whole tube has been replaced by a cable). The top tube sees compression. The internally mating tubes as he’s done it is definitely very necessary, but I’m not sure how well it would take bending loads, or what would happen if it was slightly deformed. You can’t push on a rope, after all…

Still, that’s a detail criticism not a conceptual one, so kudos to more designers trying new things.

shiggy
shiggy
12 years ago

Looks like if you cut the cable that tensions the TT the “lock” will separate from the frame. Does still disable the bike. Components are fair game no matter what.

bikethief
bikethief
12 years ago

pull out that un-lockable quill stem and the whole bike is gone…

Daniel
Daniel
12 years ago

Check out the alignment of the wheels. At min 2:55 you can clearly see the rear wheel is leaning one direction (toward the non drive side), and the front wheel is leaning the other direction. Nice concept – doesn’t look safe at all!

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