News

We’ve seen pedal-powered Ferraris , Porsches , Range Rovers and buses, but never a pedal-powered tractor. Until now. The Culticycle is a pedal-powered tractor capable of cultivating, seeding, spraying or pulling gear for most low-horsepower tasks. Small tractors do many jobs very well, but also consume fuel, are noisy, compact soil and are...

The bicycle is a design of such efficiency that it no longer has any need to evolve, but that is not to say there is no desire for new takes on bike accessories. A range of beautifully simple and elegant extras for bicycles by Italian design students showcases a fresh approach to bike lighting, mudguards, bottle holders and bells. Brake...

Given that its price, range and usability makes an electric bicycle the most practical option for those wanting the benefits of a battery-powered vehicle today, it’s perhaps surprising that only 25,000 were sold here last year – less than one per cent of all bikes sold in Britain. However, these relatively modest sales could be a thing of...

Bicycle theft can be significantly reduced by placing large photos of staring eyes above bike racks, research by Newcastle University has found. The two-year experiment, which was conducted on campus grounds, resulted in a reduction in theft of 62%. And there was also a noticeable difference in places without the signs, where bike theft...

Roads have a social hierarchy of their own; generally speaking, the bigger the vehicle the more superior the attitude of the driver, but if you want to be as lofty as possible, ride a bicycle. A 15-ft tall bicycle. Richie Trimball created STOOPIDTALL for the CicLAvia event earlier this year in Los Angeles and as a dry run for an attempt on...

Figures released this week suggest Britain is an increasingly peaceful society, but assault by a complete stranger is still occurs with alarming regularity, especially on the road. Friction between cyclists and motorists has occurred since cars first took to the roads and now a growing number attach cameras to their bikes and helmets to...

Clever innovation or just hot air? A new design of pneumatic bicycle seat aims to solve the problem of numbness and discomfort once and for all. A lot of rubbish is talked about bicycle seats and it’s usually because someone is trying to pedal a revolutionary new design. Although there’s much to be said for choosing a design that suits your...

A petrol-powered car that can cover over 4,300 miles on a single gallon of petrol has been built by Canadian students. The Alerion Supermileage team from Laval University in Quebec were taking part in the Shell Eco-marathon – an annual event that challenges students from around the world to design, build and test hyper-efficient vehicles....

An engineer from Nottingham has spent the last four years reinventing the wheel. The 20” Loopwheel developed by Sam Pierce transform folders into full-suspension bikes. Suspension for folding bikes Most folding bikes do not have suspension because conventional suspension forks add weight and bulk to the bicycle - particularly...

It doesn't seem that long ago that 6-speed gearboxes were considered the latest thing, but car giants Ford and GM are to collaborate on the development of 10-speed automatic gearboxes for their cars, SUVs and lorries. The new transmissions are intended to improve vehicle performance and increase fuel economy. The joint venture allows both...