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news
Still taken from Pedalist Kickstarter videoThe Virtue Pedalist – a tricycle with a motor designed to be used in bike lanes
“For many urban commuters, a car is too much of a commitment and in many cases a bike is less than sufficient,” say Virtue Cycles. They believe that their new creation, The Pedalist, fills that gap. Attempting to launch via Kickstarter, they had at the time of writing raised under $5,000 of a $100,000 goal with 25 days to go.
Bringing to mind a kind of upmarket auto-rickshaw, the Pedalist is billed as: “Electric bicycle + cargo bike + tadpole tricycle + velomobile.”
With a 750W electric motor and a 48v 32A li-ion battery, it is said to offer a range of over 50 miles per charge on electric power alone with a pedal-assist mode obviously adding to this. A ‘pure pedal’ mode is also available.
The vehicle can also accommodate passengers. A second adult can sit behind the cyclist while a bicycle’s toddler’s seat can be attached in the front cargo space, which the designers say “would also fit a medium sized pet”.
One of the major selling points seems to be that at just 90cm wide, it can fit in a cycle lane. It can even go through your front door, say the designers – although their front doors are presumably wider than this writer’s.
With two wheels at the front, the Pedalist offers obvious stability, a full set of lights ensure visibility, while the enclosed shell keeps you dry. If it goes into development, the full retail price would be $4,499 (around £3,000), and there would also be a version available without the electric motor and battery for $3,499 (around £2,300).
The Pedalist bears a degree of similarity to the Babel Bike which we reported on earlier in the month. Also being crowdfunded, in this case via Indiegogo, the Babel Bike has now attracted £16,000 of its £50,000 investment target.
A project of Crispin Sinclair, the son of the famous inventor Sir Clive Sinclair, the Babel Bike also features an electric motor, but its main selling point is the designers’ claim that it is the safest bike ever created. Featuring roll bars and a seatbelt, it has been tested against a 38-tonne truck and was apparently pushed by it, not crushed.
Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.
Latest Comments
- imajez 8 min 56 sec ago
Nothing new about zebra [or light controlled] crossing on roundabouts. Sheffield has had them for decades, possibly since the 1970s.
- David9694 1 hour 38 min ago
Herefordshire man fined after throwing parking ticket...
- OnYerBike 2 hours 59 min ago
I'm sure that sort of thing will come sooner or later. But presumably a key ingredient (and why you'd turn to a big brand like Fizik) is knowing...
- muhasib 3 hours 4 min ago
"the cost to rebuild the M25 junction 10/A3 Wisley interchange is £317 million. The project is expected to be completed in 2025. "
- mark1a 3 hours 28 min ago
I think they did, from memory back in the 70s/80s... haven't seen one for years though, our current milkman uses a standard van, albeit hybrid.
- kingleo 4 hours 42 min ago
I believe that straight forks that are used on carbon frames are more dangerous than the old steel forks because they are more rigid, the old steel...
- S.E. 5 hours 14 min ago
Yes, sleep apnea produces more CO... I'm not aware of any doping effect but what do I know....
- Gd29 7 hours 22 min ago
That's true enough. But doesn't address my point that the chainset you get as a replacement will not physically fit chainrings from the chain set...
- brooksby 7 hours 53 min ago
In all fairness, it almost certainly NEVER happened…
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13 comments
I'm not a cyclist & the Pedalist actually really tempted me; I think this thing made cycling a more viable option for me to do more stuffs without taking my car.
Back in 2013, most iphone users frowned upon big-screen smartphones.
Now in 2015, Tim Cook from Apple stated that 85% of new Iphone buyers are "switchers" from Android users. My conclusion: people don't like to change, insiders (old iphone users) used to small screen & they view big-screen as a CHANGE; but outsiders (Non-iphone users) view it as something NEW, not a CHANGE.
I guess the Pedalist could've made me a "Switcher"
Well I like it.
Just playing devils advocate. I don't like it at all.
You can get a lot of taxis for $4500. Or 25% fewer taxis, and spend $1000 on a bike.
There is a spate of bizarre solutions looking for a problem.
Or you could just ride a bakfiets with a raincoat on.
There are far better velomobiles out there than that thing. Crosswinds are going to be terrible in that thing.
I was curious for a moment, but then I spotted what I believe is a serious design defect. It's ugly as sin.
If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck.
This may be electric, but it's a car. A very lightweight car, but a bloody car
#fail
Awesome. I was just thinking I'd like some more motorised traffic in cycle lanes. I find they're just too roomy and empty, you know?
Good point. Since my accident I've noticed that motorised vehicles stray into cycle lanes frequently, at whim, and with the driver neglecting to check it's even safe to do so.
Bike lanes are designed for bikes, and more than a few are designed poorly, and then you have this lump trundling along. Daft.
I don't think it would be legal in a UK bike lane with that 750w motor. E-trikes are limited to 250w. I think the law is similar across most or all of the EU. The motor is also supposed to stop working at 15mph and over - I don't know if this one will.
This is clearly meant to protect the rider and passenger/cargo from the elements. Pity they didn't realise one of those elements would likely be wind - I wouldn't like to be in one in a crosswind.
Note to Virtue Cycles:
Why not do a Kickstarter for a budget airfare to Copenagen.
In winter.
When it's snowing.
At school run time.
There you might just see The World already has the solution: a 'cargo bike' with a 'parent' wearing 'a coat'.
It's been evolved and refined over the last 100 years, and works pretty well, we find.
You're welcome.
p.s. the electric assist thing? Yeah, that's sorted too, about three years back. Just Google 'Urban Arrow' - they are FREAKIN' AWESOME. Rode one myself around Amsterdam.