‘Stringbike’ wire replaces the bicycle chain

The fact that the bicycle has remained largely unchanged for one hundred years does not deter designers from trying to improve on it.

A team of Hungarian engineers this week unveiled a new design of wire drive which they claim is a more efficient and cleaner alternative to a bicycle chain.

The Schwinn ‘Stringbike’ features interchangeable kidney-shaped eccentric discs, a swinging unit and the transmission.

A detailed description of its operation is described on hungarianambiance.com and is shown in the film below.

The wires work like a tape measure; when pulled out they move the wheel, and when let go wind up allowing the wheel to continue moving forward.

A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “This design may have theoretical benefits, but it appears too complex to compete with the humble but wonderfully efficient bicycle chain.”

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