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| How does a sideways bike work? | How does a sideways bike work? |
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| WHO, WHAT, WHY? The Magazine answers... | WHO, WHAT, WHY? The Magazine answers... |
| The Sideways Bike An inventor has made a bike that travels sideways. How does it work? | The Sideways Bike An inventor has made a bike that travels sideways. How does it work? |
| It has been hailed as the first major development in bicycle design for 150 years. The Sideways Bike has a steerable wheel with a set of handlebars at either end. | It has been hailed as the first major development in bicycle design for 150 years. The Sideways Bike has a steerable wheel with a set of handlebars at either end. |
| The cyclist sits sideways and operates a wheel with each hand, and pedalling makes the whole bike travel sideways. | The cyclist sits sideways and operates a wheel with each hand, and pedalling makes the whole bike travel sideways. |
| Its key advantage is that it's more manoeuvrable than a conventional bike, says its inventor Michael Killian, 46, a software engineer in Dublin. | Its key advantage is that it's more manoeuvrable than a conventional bike, says its inventor Michael Killian, 46, a software engineer in Dublin. |
| WHO, WHAT, WHY? A regular feature in the BBC News Magazine - aiming to answer some of the questions behind the headlines | WHO, WHAT, WHY? A regular feature in the BBC News Magazine - aiming to answer some of the questions behind the headlines |
| "The strange thing about it is it's very like snowboarding or sailing because you're moving sideways and operating on a different balance system in your head. | "The strange thing about it is it's very like snowboarding or sailing because you're moving sideways and operating on a different balance system in your head. |
| "It's a front-to-back balance not a left-to-right like a normal bike. That affords you tremendous grace and motion. It's dance-like. | "It's a front-to-back balance not a left-to-right like a normal bike. That affords you tremendous grace and motion. It's dance-like. |
| "The advantages are in the motion. It's never going to win you the Tour de France. But it's mesmerising and entertaining." | "The advantages are in the motion. It's never going to win you the Tour de France. But it's mesmerising and entertaining." |
| 1: The back cog drives the back wheel chain, which unlike on a normal bike can turn either way when the back handlebar is steered.2:Back handlebar which steers the back wheel and has a rear light.3:Front handlebar which steers the front wheel and has a light and rear-view mirror.4:Pedals are at right angles to the wheels.5:The seat is shaped like an upside-down crescent.6:This frame goes over the lap of the cyclist, but can go under if preferred. | |
| A modified version, which has two sets of handlebars, smaller wheels and upon which the cyclist faces forward, could be in the shops at Christmas priced at £150, if negotiations with a supplier in Taiwan prove fruitful. And Mr Killian hopes the Sideways Bike will follow it into mass production. | A modified version, which has two sets of handlebars, smaller wheels and upon which the cyclist faces forward, could be in the shops at Christmas priced at £150, if negotiations with a supplier in Taiwan prove fruitful. And Mr Killian hopes the Sideways Bike will follow it into mass production. |
| He has already taken it to Paris, Amsterdam, Cologne, New York and Boston, to test it on the streets. Riding it around the Arc de Triomphe was a particular challenge, he says, which drew looks of bemusement from Parisiens. | He has already taken it to Paris, Amsterdam, Cologne, New York and Boston, to test it on the streets. Riding it around the Arc de Triomphe was a particular challenge, he says, which drew looks of bemusement from Parisiens. |
| But the Sideways Bike would need amending before riding on the UK streets because riding the current model would mean the cyclist had his back to the traffic. | But the Sideways Bike would need amending before riding on the UK streets because riding the current model would mean the cyclist had his back to the traffic. |
| "It's a kids' bike, from seven up to teenagers. Some adults will like it but it's for play and you need to be co-ordinated enough to ride it." | "It's a kids' bike, from seven up to teenagers. Some adults will like it but it's for play and you need to be co-ordinated enough to ride it." |
| The younger brother of the Sideways Bike. Yours for £150 | The younger brother of the Sideways Bike. Yours for £150 |
| After testing it on volunteers, he estimates only about six out of 10 people are able to master it. And he recommends getting a cyclist's helmet with a rear-view mirror attached. | After testing it on volunteers, he estimates only about six out of 10 people are able to master it. And he recommends getting a cyclist's helmet with a rear-view mirror attached. |
| A motion Mr Killian much enjoys is "drifting", which is when both wheels are parallel. The biggest difference to a normal bike is in turning, which is usually done using both wheels. | A motion Mr Killian much enjoys is "drifting", which is when both wheels are parallel. The biggest difference to a normal bike is in turning, which is usually done using both wheels. |
| A left-hand corner, for instance, will be approached with a move to the right, as it would on a normal bike. | A left-hand corner, for instance, will be approached with a move to the right, as it would on a normal bike. |
| Then the cyclist leans into the turn to take the corner. The front wheel is usually the first to turn and the back wheel follows to modify the angle. | Then the cyclist leans into the turn to take the corner. The front wheel is usually the first to turn and the back wheel follows to modify the angle. |
| He had the idea four years ago, while spending his Saturdays in his shed "working on nonsense". | He had the idea four years ago, while spending his Saturdays in his shed "working on nonsense". |
| "The first prototype nearly killed me and I still have a scar on my leg. I took it to a slope and went 330m downhill. | "The first prototype nearly killed me and I still have a scar on my leg. I took it to a slope and went 330m downhill. |
| "That was the Eureka moment and it felt like picking up a glove and finding that it fits perfectly. It was a wonderful feeling." | "That was the Eureka moment and it felt like picking up a glove and finding that it fits perfectly. It was a wonderful feeling." |
Add your comments on this story, using the form below. | Add your comments on this story, using the form below. |
| But what's the point? If it isn't particularly safe, fast, or useable what real point has it got?Surely designing a bike that, (like Roland Carter pointed out, has serious flaws when turning because not being able to see traffic) is for children, is a major mistake! They are the age group most likely to be injured whilst 'having fun'!Keith Smith, Leeds UK | But what's the point? If it isn't particularly safe, fast, or useable what real point has it got?Surely designing a bike that, (like Roland Carter pointed out, has serious flaws when turning because not being able to see traffic) is for children, is a major mistake! They are the age group most likely to be injured whilst 'having fun'!Keith Smith, Leeds UK |
| 150 years of development of the current bike has given us ultra lightweight, fast, full suspension bikes made from steel, aluminium and even carbon fibre. These bikes work brilliantly, hence making this sideways bike a totally pointless exercise. This story will the first and last time we ever hear about this ridiculous machine.Iain Pendry, Derby | 150 years of development of the current bike has given us ultra lightweight, fast, full suspension bikes made from steel, aluminium and even carbon fibre. These bikes work brilliantly, hence making this sideways bike a totally pointless exercise. This story will the first and last time we ever hear about this ridiculous machine.Iain Pendry, Derby |
| I am ultra cautious when I ride a normal bike in today's traffic so I won't be buying one of these. I am sure it will go down in history as another good but well engineered Irish jokePete Weath, Kingston upon hull | I am ultra cautious when I ride a normal bike in today's traffic so I won't be buying one of these. I am sure it will go down in history as another good but well engineered Irish jokePete Weath, Kingston upon hull |
| Another person trying to reinvent the wheel...literally. I'd rather face the direction I'm heading and get 180 degree vision of my travel direction than get hit in the back by a car that I couldn't see coming.Phil, Nottingham | Another person trying to reinvent the wheel...literally. I'd rather face the direction I'm heading and get 180 degree vision of my travel direction than get hit in the back by a car that I couldn't see coming.Phil, Nottingham |
| I crashed my (ordinary) bicycle into the front of a car this morning, luckily without injury. Maybe its time to invest, except I dread to think what would happen in a crash situation as you wouldn't be able to navigate so easily as you cartwheeled through the air, whereas a neat somersault over the front got me out of trouble...Anon, Liverpool, England | I crashed my (ordinary) bicycle into the front of a car this morning, luckily without injury. Maybe its time to invest, except I dread to think what would happen in a crash situation as you wouldn't be able to navigate so easily as you cartwheeled through the air, whereas a neat somersault over the front got me out of trouble...Anon, Liverpool, England |
| Is it just me or is this completely useless?! Surely a great invention is something that improves our way of life not taking an existing object and making it less functional? I think it should be sold with neck strain cream too. Strange!Keely Jackman, London | Is it just me or is this completely useless?! Surely a great invention is something that improves our way of life not taking an existing object and making it less functional? I think it should be sold with neck strain cream too. Strange!Keely Jackman, London |
| Just 2 words...Sinclair C5Neil, Liverpool | Just 2 words...Sinclair C5Neil, Liverpool |
| I actually checked my calendar to see if it was April 1st.Modupe , London | I actually checked my calendar to see if it was April 1st.Modupe , London |
| If 6 out of 10 folk can master it, does that mean 4 out of 10 bike thieves will be out of a job?Paul, Edinburgh | If 6 out of 10 folk can master it, does that mean 4 out of 10 bike thieves will be out of a job?Paul, Edinburgh |
| Fun I suppose but otherwise utterly pointless and dangerous! How do you put your foot down if you overbalance to the right (or back in this case)? Take a look in Cambridge at the number of people who haven't yet mastered riding an ordinary bike safely or within the law!Richard Bagnall, UK, Cambridge | Fun I suppose but otherwise utterly pointless and dangerous! How do you put your foot down if you overbalance to the right (or back in this case)? Take a look in Cambridge at the number of people who haven't yet mastered riding an ordinary bike safely or within the law!Richard Bagnall, UK, Cambridge |
| Whilst this is a fun invention, I find it irritating that toys like this get so much attention in the main stream media. It adds nothing to the promotion of cycling as a practical method of travelling from A to B and sends out the message that cycling is for cranks and eccentrics. (Even the word crank..) Ralph Williams, Cambridge UK | Whilst this is a fun invention, I find it irritating that toys like this get so much attention in the main stream media. It adds nothing to the promotion of cycling as a practical method of travelling from A to B and sends out the message that cycling is for cranks and eccentrics. (Even the word crank..) Ralph Williams, Cambridge UK |
| As we say in the Big Apple, fuhgeddaboudit! Riding this contraption on the street in Manhattan means you'll never see the car doors open behind you as you travel up the avenue (what we affectionately call being "doored"), you'll never see the pedestrian jaywalkers as they step out from behind a parked car, and when you get cut off by a vehicle (which the bus drivers love to do) and fall backwards your goose is cooked! Sideways=NowaysRich Weil, New York, New York USA | As we say in the Big Apple, fuhgeddaboudit! Riding this contraption on the street in Manhattan means you'll never see the car doors open behind you as you travel up the avenue (what we affectionately call being "doored"), you'll never see the pedestrian jaywalkers as they step out from behind a parked car, and when you get cut off by a vehicle (which the bus drivers love to do) and fall backwards your goose is cooked! Sideways=NowaysRich Weil, New York, New York USA |
| If I ever feel the need to seriously injure myself, I'll remember this invention. You mention how a left hand corner can be approached, but how will you be able to check for traffic coming from behind? Presumably with those eyes we all have in the back of our heads! Like to see this one get money from the Dragons' Den!!Roland Carter, Birmingham | If I ever feel the need to seriously injure myself, I'll remember this invention. You mention how a left hand corner can be approached, but how will you be able to check for traffic coming from behind? Presumably with those eyes we all have in the back of our heads! Like to see this one get money from the Dragons' Den!!Roland Carter, Birmingham |