ElliptiGO Seatless Bike Launched (early 2010)

The ElliptiGO, a seatless bike that emulates running, is going to be launched at the start of 2010 after a few years in development.

As opposed to pedals, the ElliptiGO has two platforms on what you stand and press to supply the drive towards the crank.

Its originator, Bryan Pate, invented the concept after losing the ability to run to keep fit through hip and knee injuries. He desired to proceed working out but found the riding position on a conventional bike uncomfortable and didn?t wish to be tied to gym-style, stationary elliptical fitness machines.

Specification includes Shimano Alfine 8-speed gearing, aluminium frame and carbon fibre cranks. Claimed weight is 37 pounds (slightly below 17kg), and will also retail at US$1,999.

It’s 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 entice general fitness enthusiasts and especially current or former runners. Our initial results were that hardcore bicyclists couldn’t survive interested.”

“My co-founder (Brent Teal) and i also are former Ironman triathletes, so we’ve spent thousands of miles within the saddle on both road and tri bikes along with done a substantial amount of biking. We considered that cyclists would treat an ElliptiGO rider like they are doing a recumbent-rider - either ignore him or make a snide comment. To the surprise, nearly all cyclists happen to be really receptive for the idea. We’ve discovered that the greater difficult the ride/event we have been on, the greater supportive cyclists are. In terms of our customers, so far about 50 % describe themselves as ‘general fitness enthusiasts’, about a quarter describe themselves as runners along with the other quarter as cyclists.”

Pate stressed what he sensed were the main advantages of the ElliptiGO after completing the event: “Other cyclists see the sized the bike it comes with there’s no seat and they conclude who’s should be much more challenging to climb on than their 16-pound Roubaix or Madone. The reality is, the ElliptiGO is heavy, however it climbs really well as well as the insufficient a seat ensures that 6 or 7 hours in the ride bodies are still really comfortable and pain free. After the ride we were a smaller amount ‘beat up’ compared to a conventional cyclist is and much better off than someone that went running for long enough to find the same exercise benefits.”

This individual also sees widespread commuter / urban appeal for that seatless machine, when they can reduce the market price, stressing three major advantages over conventional bikes:

The rider is much better in a position to observe his surroundings simply because his line of sight is practically never blocked by cars and other objects. As an outcome, he or she is more likely to see a potential threat earlier and therefore have an overabundance time for it to cure it. This provides such a much better sense of security on urban roads as the rider feels more in control of his surroundings plus much more empowered. Plus, there are not many better feelings than looking documented on the trucker of the Hummer when pulling to a stoplight.
The upright riding posture also makes all the rider a lot more visible to motorists, cyclists and pedestrians, so that it is unlikely that they will hit him.
Because of the configuration with the pedaling system and deficiency of a seat, the ElliptiGO is much better for folks wearing non-cycling attire. The possible lack of a seats ensures that there is no wet seat to sit down on also it implies that women can wear skirts or dresses with out them get all bunched up or exposing on their own around the globe. We didn’t realise that was a problem, yet we’ve had many women mention it. Also, since the chain has run out of the way and there’s no structural member above the plane in the pedaling motion, there is nothing there to soil suits or jeans.