Unchain My Bike

The prototype of a chainless bicycle was unveiled recently by Hungarian bike manufacturer Schwinn Csepel at an exhibition in Padova, Italy.

The Budapest-based firm claims the Stringbike will not only provide a “symmetrical” cycling experience but end the days of having to deal with a greasy chain.

[an error occurred while processing this directive][an error occurred while processing this directive][an error occurred while processing this directive]According to Schwinn Csepel, “The Stringbike has two identical but oppositely directed driving units at either sides of the frame. The rotation of the pedals forces a swinging arm to swing forward and backward around its shaft. The forward segment of this motion pulls a rope wound around a drum on the rear wheel that forces the wheel to rotate. As the two sides move in mirror symmetry, there is always one arm that moves forward, thus the rear wheel is always driven. The specific design shifts the task of driving unnoticeably from the right to the left sides and vice versa. Even the most sensitive driver will not notice when the task of driving is shifted from one side to the other.”