| New bike could drive you round the
bend By Trevor O’Sullivan
IT WAS initially labelled a well-engineered Irish joke but Dublin inventor
Michael Killian has had the last laugh.
His invention the Sideways Bike has been hailed as the first major development
in bicycle design for 150 years and the idea has attracted worldwide attention.
But how does it work? The Sideways Bike has a steerable wheel with a set
of handlebars at either end. And the cyclist sits sideways and operates
a wheel with each hand. Pedalling then makes the whole bike travel sideways.
The 46-year-old software engineer believes it offers a unique cycling
experience.
He said: “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.
Its key advantage is that it’s more manoeuvrable than a conventional
bike.
“I mean it’s never going to win you the Tour de France but
it’s mesmerising and entertaining. The ride is very graceful and
akin to a snowboard with swooping circles and curves.”
Michael’s idea went through many different variations and took two
years to get to the stage it’s at now.
The time invested has not been without incident but the inventor believes
it’s all been worthwhile.
He said: “The first prototype nearly killed me and I still have
a scar on my leg. But the Eureka moment felt like I had picked up a glove
and found that it fit perfectly. It was a wonderful feeling.”
The inventor’s effort has been rewarded with an award from the Exhibition
of Inventions. And he has also won a semi-final place on Sky One inventors
show The Big Idea.
Michael’s passion for the bicycle has seen him take it to Paris,
Amsterdam, Cologne, New York and Boston to test it on the streets.
If all goes to plan the bike could go into production in Taiwan later
this year and end up for sale this Christmas. Michael believes its unique
appeal could make it something that appeals to a younger generation.
He said: “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.”
n For further information of Michael’s Sideways Bike contact www.sidewaysbike.com. |
