The Bird of Prey bike replaces the standard bike seat with a new hip rest, putting cyclist in a leaning forward position, preventing them from flipping over the handlebars. Photo / The Bird of Prey
The Bird of Prey bike replaces the standard bike seat with a new hip rest, putting cyclist in a leaning forward position, preventing them from flipping over the handlebars. Photo / The Bird of Prey
They cut down on carbon emissions and help keep us fit, but bikes are not the safest form of transport, and accidents can cause serious injuries.
But a bizarre new design could help to reduce the number of accidents on the roads.
The Bird of Prey bike replaces the standardbike seat with a new hip rest, putting the cyclist in a leaning forward position, and preventing them from flipping over the handlebars.
This position enhances spinning ease, and allows the rider to 'push and pull on the pedals as if he were running with legs fully extended'. Photo / The Bird of Prey
The bike is the brainchild of John Aldridge, an inventor from California.
Rather than sitting in a seat, cyclists lean forward with their weight resting on their hips and arms.
The rider's body on the Bird of Prey is in a lay out position as if the rider was swimming in water.
This allows the rider to push and pull on the pedals as if he/she were running with legs fully extended.
The rider's body is supported on the hips placing the body in a position that allows the rider to push and pull on the pedals in a fast spinning action.
The Bird of Prey claims to be the fastest racing bike in the world, because of its low centre of gravity, high speed gears, and ability to overcome wind resistance.
But the most important attribute that Mr Aldridge wanted to change about cycling with his new design was safety.
On the website, he writes: 'I have flipped over the handlebars on my sit down bike many dangerous and life threatening times.
"This can't happen on a Bird of Prey."
The Bird of Prey stops in a shorter distance than a sit-down bike, preventing the rider from flipping over the handlebars.
Mr Aldridge added: "If everyone rode a Bird of Prey, accidents from going over the handlebars would cease - saving serious injuries and death."
While the bike could help to prevent accidents on the road, it is not cheap, and will set you back NZ$6789.37 - although the firm is not yet set up for payments.
For comparison, the average road bike costs around $1037.34.
'SMART HELMET' LETS BIKERS LISTEN TO MUSIC
Photo / Coros
The innovation features a wireless headset that hangs from the helmet and straps to the user's cheekbone or jawbone.
The sound is then conveyed through a technique known as 'bone conduction technology', which involves sound waves vibrating against the bones, before reaching the cochlea which transmits it to the brain.
A device mounted to the handlebars is used to adjust the volume, pause and skip songs, and answer and reject calls without having to stop and get the phone out.
It can provide voice navigation from a GPS while there is also a group communication tool which lets cyclists who are wearing the helmet interact with one another as they ride.
The outside of the waterproof helmet is made from a polycarbonate shell while EPS impact foam lines the inside.
