TOP-ten4Bicycles

1) In the heat and rain

Who likes cycling in the rain or in extreme heat? Hardly anyone! The fact is that our city bikes, cargo bikes and touring bikes only offer a high level of everyday riding comfort if they also added  protect us from rain or direct sunlight. 
An attachable protective roof would encourage us to leave the car in the garage more often.
As an option, a PV film stretched over the aluminium roof frame could (instead of only with Perlon) also supply a considerable proportion of the drive energy. Some companies offer these lightweight, rollable films*. The electricity generated on the approx. 1.1 m² roof could be fed directly into the solar battery installed in the bicycle frame. The approx. 150W of the PV film can harvest electricity during the day (even in diffuse light conditions). The frame and foil are rolled or foldable.
The lightweight, removable horizontal-roof is wind-slippery, because even changing winds are actually flat. During a longer test phase, I rode one without any problems - even in strong gusts of wind. 
The approx. 60 x 180 cm roof extends far forwards to protect against rain and thus ensures dry paths. A wind and sight-permeable mesh blind protects against both rain and side sun. If required, it can be attached to the roof frame with Velcro. This blind has a lead tape at the lower hem and hangs down approx. 55 cm.
Sporty cyclists might also like this roof without electric drive (covered with perlon cloth instead of PV film, weighs nearly 400g).
This clip-on roof would also be a gain for retrofitting.


4) Airless tyres?

My idea of a new type of tyre made of a harder rubber compound requires neither the usual rim bead wire nor fabric inserts - neither an inner tube nor internal air overpressure.

 What the low-profile tyre does for a car, the following sketched carcass profile section could do for a bicycle:

This type of tyre is already cushioned by its thick-walled hard rubber cross-section profile (see drawing). In the event of higher loads, these tyres can still be inflated accordingly.

In addition, a small, narrow, central rolling bead offers perfectly minimised rolling resistance. The lateral auxiliary beads, optimised for grip, roll in contact with the ground when cornering at an angle.

This fahrRAD tyre has a two-piece "bolt-on rim" for tyre mounting, which ensures a perfect and positive tyre fit.

There is also no need to inflate the tyres or to "pick out patches" with this nail-proof model.
What's more, the wire- and fabric-free material is easy to recycle and can be reused as granulate! These tyres are particularly durable on rough terrain and when transporting loads, and require few repairs.

5) The hand protector

In order to avoid the usual micro-traumas in the wrist, a cylindrical, elastomer pipe plug connection could be embedded in each of the steering grips and their transitions to the steering bar to minimise impact. This rigid-elastic bridge could be offered differently to the weight of a person (or it could be recessed to a different depth).


6) Laboriously spoking a bike is a thing of the past ...

A back-friendly side effect of the newly designed fahrRAD: the rear wheel can optionally be fitted with 12 conical fibreglass arch springs or steel leaf springs - instead of the usual spokes - for effective shock absorption. Other shock absorbers (for front and rear) also make a bike more expensive. Due to the rear wheel's centre of gravity, this approach only requires damping there. In principle, pushchairs can also be fitted with such wheels.


7) Long finger lock

The bike can be attached and secured against theft with a long steel cable lock that can be pulled out of the frame. A second quick immobiliser would be just as practical and practical.
It should be possible to secure the steel cable lock, battery, storage basket and solar roof with just one key. Even better would be a manual transmitter lock - which locks everything centrally, as has long been the case with cars.


8) The small cargo bike

    The market for cargo bikes is diverse, but all cargo bikes are quite expensive to buy and have a bulky, long design.
 
As an alternative to these bikes, any normal bike could accommodate the following cargo basket behind the saddle:

A clip-on basket measuring approx. 60x140x55 (W, H, L) cm, which can be made from woven willow in the interests of ecological sustainability. This natural material is somewhat lighter in weight than aluminium expanded metal, for example, and could be structured as a wide-open net. This dimension would offer 420 litres of secured load volume. The floor is made of 4 mm thick beech plywood with an 8 mm thick edge reinforcement, and it is connected at the corners with four swivel castors.

The wicker basket is hooked onto the seat tube and snapped onto the two seat stays of the rear frame with a tug. The basket is loaded and unloaded via its lockable tailgate. If required, a rainproof cover keeps the transported goods dry.
It can also be used as a practical shopping trolley (approx. 60x90x50 cm, 240 litres) made of wicker.
When removed from the wheel, this type of basket can be easily pushed on its wheels like a suitcase.
In addition, a 30x30 cm "balcony carrier", which is attached to the fork steerer tube, can hold further luggage. The luggage is attached to this carrier with rubber clips and placed in the centre of the frame - at every steering angle. If required, this carrier also provides a statically favourable load balance to the rear load basket.

This type of mesh basket also competes favourably with expensive, bulky cargo bikes and helps budding delivery drivers on their way to self-employment. And if you leave the basket at home, you can use your bike as usual.


   * Furthermore, there are several billion plastic suitcases, mostly produced in East Asia, in households around the world, and soon afterwards in landfill sites. They should be replaced by three interlocking, durable travelling suitcases made of wicker. These would save us from tens of thousands of tonnes of plastic waste and its decomposition into microplastics; and most importantly, end the ongoing polluting, foul-smelling plastic suitcase trade. It would also revitalise an ancient craft.

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With a pleasing inner fabric and colourful oilcloth weather cover, this wicker trolley would be another sustainable utility item for a more ecological lifestyle.
DIY kits including instructions could also be ordered as raw material. This way you could make your own basket. Can't be too difficult - can it?

   ... 8 a) Heavy-duty trailer

The carriage (or taxi, if applicable) has plug-in fixed benches for passenger transport. They are made of felt-covered, lightweight OSB seats on a metal frame. With three rows of seats, the trailer still offers space for 1 - 2 prams. The entrance should be on the right-hand side due to the usual direction of travel.
The PV tarpaulins on the sides provide an all-round view for the maximum of 8 people travelling in one transport thanks to integrated transparent films.
On cold days, small quartz radiators warm the passengers.

In addition to the tent function, attached side folding walls made of lightweight web panels create a 12.4 m² living/sleeping area. When the walls are unfolded, the tent opens up via arched fibreglass braces. Then adjust the four outer corner supports towards the ground - done!
There is probably a nice camping or free car park everywhere. With its own power supply, solar shower and camping toilet, you can also travel on a small budget.

Any bike can steer this large-capacity trailer. Sometimes as a family coach, sometimes as a delivery or taxi service.
In both urban and rural areas, it opens up emission-free transport services based on independent entrepreneurship.

9) Stepping rocker instead of cranking
 
Both lever arms point forwards and are operated by stepping instead of cranking. Together with the slightly reclined sitting position, this improves the efficiency of the body-mechanical use of force.
The two lever arms each have a freewheel around their square axle eyes. The two lever arms each have a freewheel around their square axle eyes. By separating the right-hand lever arm from its chainring, it is possible to create two mechanically independent steppers. For mutually complementary leg movement, the levers are connected to each other by means of a second wheel chain via a 12 teeth idler sprocket located on the seat tube. The chainring itself must be connected to the square axle. This also applies to a front 2 or 3 sprocket.  

This change in pedalling mechanics turns the pedal crank into a stepper rocker. Its dead-centre freedom increases the overall pedalling performance, because with the previous circular cranking system, 2/3 of the cycle path is empty. Here, on the other hand, only the effective third of the 120° maximum travel is operated ‘step by step’.
To push the bike backwards, lift it slightly at the rear wheel.
This step-by-step rocker also enables a mechanically simple tandem ...
   ... 9 a) One fahrRAD for two forces 
This tandem/sigle version has a stretched frame on which a second leaning saddle can be mounted, for which purpose the lever arms are extended beyond the point of the pedalling axle. From there, they are operated by the second rider (via attachable sliding sleeves, also with their own shifting capability).the second saddle is simply left at home for single rides.this version opens up the development and market testing of a creative, lightweight tandem/single bike! The frame outfit would remain the specific design result of the respective bicycle manufacturer.


10) Stepping gear change 

Up to now, the 170 mm long pedal arm - with its inevitably rotating pedals - has been the standard mechanical specification for all bicycles.
However, a step-through lever - designed with a non-slip pedal plate - can be used over its entire length.
length. The foot then chooses its own position on this pedal plate and automatically determines the optimum leverage.
The advantages:
# This type of ‘foot control’ can therefore replace countless individual parts, such as the Bowden cable: Bowden cable, shifting mechanism on the handlebars, rear wheel sprocket set + derailleur or the hub gear with all its inner workings. A classic gear system already fitted to the bike would probably be left as a possible additional component.
# Stepper arms and pedal plates can be made of aluminium because their freewheel leads into a steel connection to the axle. This also saves a lot of weight.
# They are more expensive to manufacture and the price of the new bike - whether as a retrofit kit or as a fixed ‘fahrRAD’ - is initially higher.

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The general 10 fahrRAD advantages are:
* These fahrRAD add-ons contribute to further traffic and climate calming. 
* The approaches can be used as a single bike or tandem, as well as a cargo, TAXI or family carriage. 
* As a cargo bike, it gives the deliverer work and reduces urban smog and congestion. 
* The innovations can also be used individually.


Conclusion: This innovative fahrRAD would not just be a "fair-weather bike" and would certainly soon be popular on the market. It could positively enrich the bicycle industry - due to its high level of safety and multi-purpose capability! These licence-free, innovative approaches would offer you a special brand advantage for your bicycle production. Some of them can also be offered as retrofit kits.

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    Locally adapted fahrRAD productions could also be realised by emerging countries.
In any case, all 10 innovations are available free of charge. Low-cost alternative mobility that avoids the disadvantages of fossil fuels and road construction would certainly be welcome and necessary there.


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