Loopwheels put a spring in your cycling

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margin-right: 9px;">BICYCLES</a> </div>  <h1 id="ar_title">Loopwheels put a spring in your cycling</h1> <div class="summary_details_left"> <p>By <a href="/web/20130525202820/http://www.gizmag.com/author/ben-coxworth/" rel="author">Ben Coxworth</a></p> <p><em>April 17, 2013</em></p> </div> <div class="summary_details_right"> <div class="has_comments"><a href="loopwheels-suspension-bicycle-wheels#comments">8 Comments</a></div> <div class="has_pictures"><a href="/web/20130525202820/http://www.gizmag.com/loopwheels-suspension-bicycle-wheels/27129/pictures">6 Pictures</a></div> </div> </div> <div id="article_share_rail"> <div class="as_button"><div class="fb-like" data-href="http://www.gizmag.com/loopwheels-suspension-bicycle-wheels/27129/" data-send="false" data-layout="box_count" data-show-faces="false"></div><script type="text/javascript">_ga.trackFacebook();</script></div> <div class="as_button"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130525202820/http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-count="vertical" data-via="gizmag">Tweet</a></div> <div class="as_button"><div class="g-plusone" data-size="tall" data-href="http://www.gizmag.com/loopwheels-suspension-bicycle-wheels/27129/"></div></div> <div class="as_button"><iframe style="overflow: hidden; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130525202820if_/http://badge.stumbleupon.com/badge/embed/5/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gizmag.com%2Floopwheels-suspension-bicycle-wheels%2F27129%2F" width="50" height="60" id="iframe-stmblpn-widget-1"></iframe></div> <div class="as_button"><div class="pin-it-button" data-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20130525202820oe_/http://www.gizmag.com/loopwheels-suspension-bicycle-wheels/27129/" data-image="http://images.gizmag.com/hero/loopwheels.jpg" data-description="Loopwheels are bicycle wheels with a built-in suspension system. "></div></div> <div class="as_button"><script type="IN/Share" data-counter="top"></script></div> <div class="as_button" id="reddit_button_rail"><script type="text/javascript">reddit_newwindow='1'</script></div> <div class="as_button" id="email_a_friend_rail"><span class="email_a_friend">Email</span></div> </div> <div id="hero_box" style="width: 530px;"> <a id="hero_link" href="/web/20130525202820/http://www.gizmag.com/loopwheels-suspension-bicycle-wheels/27129/pictures"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130525202820im_/http://images.gizmag.com/hero/loopwheels.jpg" title="Instead of spokes, the Loopwheel uses three looped carbon composite springs that run from ..." width="530" height="298" alt="Instead of spokes, the Loopwheel uses three looped carbon composite springs that run from ..."/></a> <div class="pic_caption"> <p>Instead of spokes, the Loopwheel uses three looped carbon composite springs that run from the hub to the rim</p> <a href="/web/20130525202820/http://www.gizmag.com/loopwheels-suspension-bicycle-wheels/27129/pictures" id="gallery_link">Image Gallery</a> (6 images) </div> <div class="clear_both"></div> </div> <div class="article_body"> <div id="top_unit"></div> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130525202820js_/http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script> <p>When you have plenty of bicycle to work with, such as is the case with a mountain bike, it’s not such a big deal to design it with front and rear suspension. When the bicycle in question is a diminutive folding city bike, however, it gets a bit trickier. That’s why UK industrial designer Sam Pearce has created Loopwheels. Instead of relying on a suspension fork and rear shock, it lets the bike’s 20-inch wheels absorb the bumps.</p> <ul id="gallery_images"> <li><a href="/web/20130525202820/http://www.gizmag.com/loopwheels-suspension-bicycle-wheels/27129/pictures#1" class="image"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130525202820im_/http://images.gizmag.com/gallery_tn/loopwheels-1.jpg" title="The Loopwheel attached to a testing rig" alt="The Loopwheel attached to a testing rig"/></a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130525202820/http://www.gizmag.com/loopwheels-suspension-bicycle-wheels/27129/pictures#2" class="image"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130525202820im_/http://images.gizmag.com/gallery_tn/loopwheels-2.jpg" title="Instead of relying on a suspension fork and rear shock, the Loopwheel lets the bike’s 20-i..." alt="Instead of relying on a suspension fork and rear shock, the Loopwheel lets the bike’s 20-i..."/></a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130525202820/http://www.gizmag.com/loopwheels-suspension-bicycle-wheels/27129/pictures#3" class="image"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130525202820im_/http://images.gizmag.com/gallery_tn/loopwheels-3.JPG" title="A test loopwheel under compression" alt="A test loopwheel under compression"/></a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130525202820/http://www.gizmag.com/loopwheels-suspension-bicycle-wheels/27129/pictures#4" class="image"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130525202820im_/http://images.gizmag.com/gallery_tn/loopwheels-4.jpg" title="This illustration shows how the Loopwheel handles bumps compared to a conventional spoked ..." alt="This illustration shows how the Loopwheel handles bumps compared to a conventional spoked ..."/></a></li> <li id="view_all"><a href="/web/20130525202820/http://www.gizmag.com/loopwheels-suspension-bicycle-wheels/27129/pictures" class="blue">View all<br/></a></li> </ul> <div class="clear_both"></div> <p>Each wheel incorporates a regular hub, with a hub brake and hub gearing. Instead of spokes, however, three looped carbon composite springs run from the hub to the rim. Whenever the wheel hits a bump in the road, the energy is absorbed by those springs.</p> <p>This causes the hub to momentarily dip down within the wheel by up to 45 millimeters, so it’s actually a bit off-center until the springs flex back into their regular state. For this reason, the wheels will only work on bikes that already have sufficient space between the fork/frame and the tire – otherwise the bike would be hitting its own tires when the springs compressed.</p> <p>Loopwheels come in front- and rear-specific versions, one of the key differences being that the springs in the front wheel are twice as compliant as those in the back. This is (presumably) to help keep the wheel that does the steering from being knocked and bounced around, plus it compensates for the fact that more of the rider’s weight tends to be centered over the rear wheel.</p> <p>Each wheel reportedly weighs about 300 grams (10.5 oz) more than a comparable spoked wheel.</p> <div style="width: 525px; height: 528px; " class="article_img"><a href="/web/20130525202820/http://www.gizmag.com/loopwheels-suspension-bicycle-wheels/27129/pictures#3" target="_blank"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130525202820im_/http://images.gizmag.com/inline/loopwheels-2.jpg" width="525" alt="Instead of relying on a suspension fork and rear shock, the Loopwheel lets the bike’s 20-i..."/></a></div> <p>According to Pearce, one of the advantages of Loopwheels is the fact that unlike a suspension fork, they can absorb shocks delivered not just from underneath or above but also from the front (as might happen when running into a curb head-on). He also admits that many other inventors have come up with designs for wheels with tangential suspension over the past hundred years or so, although he believes that today’s modern materials will allow his to work where others have proved impractical.</p> <p>Pearce is now raising production funds for his Loopwheels, on Kickstarter. A pledge of £195 (US$297) will get you a front wheel (which can be used with a conventional rear wheel), while £420 ($640) will get you a front and rear set – when and if the funding goal is met. A 26-inch model for mountain bikes is also in the works.</p> <p>The wheels can be seen in use in the pitch video below.</p> <p>Source: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130525202820/http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1205277475/loopwheels-for-a-smoother-more-comfortable-bicycle" target="_blank">Kickstarter</a></p>  <div class="article_video"><iframe width="530" height="398" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130525202820if_/http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1205277475/loopwheels-for-a-smoother-more-comfortable-bicycle/widget/video.html" frameborder="0"> </iframe> </div>   <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130525202820js_/http://static.fmpub.net/zone/7980"></script> <div id="bottom_unit"> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130525202820js_/http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"></script> </div> </div> <span class="title share_bar">Share</span> <div id="article_share_bar" class="dotsontop share_bar"> <div class="as_button fb_as_button"><div class="fb-like" data-href="http://www.gizmag.com/loopwheels-suspension-bicycle-wheels/27129/" data-send="false" data-layout="box_count" data-show-faces="false"></div><script type="text/javascript">_ga.trackFacebook();</script></div> <div class="as_button"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130525202820/http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-count="vertical" data-via="gizmag">Tweet</a></div> <div class="as_button"><div class="g-plusone" data-size="tall" data-href="http://www.gizmag.com/loopwheels-suspension-bicycle-wheels/27129/"></div></div> <div class="as_button"><iframe style="overflow: hidden; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130525202820if_/http://badge.stumbleupon.com/badge/embed/5/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gizmag.com%2Floopwheels-suspension-bicycle-wheels%2F27129%2F" width="50" height="60" id="iframe-stmblpn-widget-2"></iframe></div> <div class="as_button"><div class="pin-it-button" data-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20130525202820oe_/http://www.gizmag.com/loopwheels-suspension-bicycle-wheels/27129/" data-image="http://images.gizmag.com/hero/loopwheels.jpg" data-description="Loopwheels are bicycle wheels with a built-in suspension system. "></div></div> <div class="as_button"><script type="IN/Share" data-counter="top"></script></div> <div class="as_button" id="reddit_button_bar"><script type="text/javascript">reddit_newwindow='1'</script></div>  </div>  <span class="title clear_left" id="author_byline_title">About the Author</span> <div class="dotsontop" id="authorcontainer">  <a href="/web/20130525202820/http://www.gizmag.com/author/ben-coxworth/"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130525202820im_/http://images.gizmag.com/author_profiles/127.jpg" alt="Ben Coxworth" id="bio_pic"/> </a>   An experienced freelance writer, videographer and television producer, Ben's interest in all forms of innovation is particularly fanatical when it comes to human-powered transportation, film-making gear, environmentally-friendly technologies and anything that's designed to go underwater. He lives in Edmonton, Alberta, where he spends a lot of time going over the handlebars of his mountain bike, hanging out in off-leash parks, and wishing the Pacific Ocean wasn't so far away.   <a href="/web/20130525202820/http://www.gizmag.com/author/ben-coxworth/">All articles by Ben Coxworth</a> <span id="author_byline_links">   </span> <br class="clear_both"> </div>  <div id="tags"> <span class="title">Tags</span> <div class="dotsontop"> <ul> <li>» <a href="/web/20130525202820/http://www.gizmag.com/tag/bikes/" rel="tag">Bikes</a></li> <li>» <a href="/web/20130525202820/http://www.gizmag.com/tag/cycling/" rel="tag">Cycling</a></li> <li>» <a href="/web/20130525202820/http://www.gizmag.com/tag/foldable+bike/" rel="tag">Foldable bike</a></li> <li>» <a href="/web/20130525202820/http://www.gizmag.com/tag/kickstarter/" rel="tag">Kickstarter</a></li> <li>» <a href="/web/20130525202820/http://www.gizmag.com/tag/wheel/" rel="tag">Wheel</a></li> </ul> <div class="clear_both"></div> </div> </div> <div id="bing_unit"></div>  <span class="title" id="comments">8 Comments</span> <div class="dotsontop"> <div id="comment-216919" class="a_comment"> <p>I played with the idea using steel springs in wagon wheels for a Ring of Fire series fanfic (I highly recommend the books if you like time travel stories) but I am not convinced that loopwheels are a better solution than a springy seat post. </p> <span class="name">Slowburn</span><br> <span class="date"> 17th April, 2013 @ 10:46 pm PDT</span> </div> <div id="comment-216922" class="a_comment"> <p>would there be negative effect on the bikes performance? </p> <span class="name">Michael Lau</span><br> <span class="date"> 17th April, 2013 @ 10:48 pm PDT</span> </div> <div id="comment-216946" class="a_comment"> <p>@Michael Lau </p> <p>Presumably yes, since part of your energy will go into moving the hub within the wheels. But since they're springs, you'll get most of that back, so it's probably close enough to a wash to not matter much. Especially on a purely A-to-B type bike like a folder. </p> <p></p> <p>Although a good folder can get some awesome performance. </p> <p></p> <p>I like this idea! Would like to see a review by someone impartial. </p> <span class="name">Frank van Schie</span><br> <span class="date"> 18th April, 2013 @ 02:31 am PDT</span> </div> <div id="comment-216952" class="a_comment"> <p>My background in wheel performance is its circular motion( which involves the circular of the wheel, and that the hub remains in the center of the wheel) if u are rolling with an oblong wheel, then u may actually exert more effort in lifting your self with the bike rather than rolling. </p> <p></p> <p>For me, base on this design, as long as you can maintain the hub to be: ground to hub distance would always be greater than the hub to the horizontal distance (radius) to the rim. then you should be fine. </p> <p></p> <p>Cases to consider: </p> <p>1: Idle - the spring should be able to carry the rider with no deflection, other wise if u lowered the spring from the beginning making the ground to hub distance smaller than the horizontal radius, you might experience lifting. but if it can support i believe its good </p> <p></p> <p>2: forward- in a plane terrain riding, if your moving forward. (with the 1st case scenario considered) i think its good to. </p> <p></p> <p>2.1: Humps - if u roll over a hump, den the shock can make the hub offset.but if it maintain with the situation i wrote on top. then you'll have the case o rolling in a "something like a smaller wheel since the radius reduced" but will be fine, then after the humps, the wheels would recover the shape. here you'll still good </p> <p></p> <p>3: Down hill- I think this would be the least of your problems. not to mention if you're fine with the previous scenarios. " a box can slide with free fall" </p> <p></p> <p>4: Up hill- this is where i think you may encounter difficulty. since its a climb. assume that you follow case 1, then you should be at least fine here. you have to focus on the ground distance to hub must always be greater than radius of wheel parallel to inclination of climb. (because imagine case 1, if your hub is no longer at the center, you will be lifting your self. in an inclined position. more difficult than lifting in a plane. </p> <p></p> <p>I still like this invention and consider it an innovation. </p> <p></p> <p>(My comments are "my opinion" only, please do not take it negatively. I did not see this in person, so I COULD BE WRONG. </p> <p>Comments are base on my mechanical behavior experience) </p> <p></p> <p>Go Innovators! =D </p> <p></p> <p></p> <span class="name">Edison Ong</span><br> <span class="date"> 18th April, 2013 @ 02:40 am PDT</span> </div> <div id="comment-216973" class="a_comment"> <p>How does it constrain the axial translation and the 3 rotations? Is is springy in all those 4 directions as well? </p> <span class="name">francm</span><br> <span class="date"> 18th April, 2013 @ 03:42 am PDT</span> </div> <div id="comment-217039" class="a_comment"> <p>Near the end of the video it shows the bike on the "rolling road" test bed, the rim is moving laterally, not good in most bike applications. </p> <span class="name">Greg Mixson</span><br> <span class="date"> 18th April, 2013 @ 09:24 am PDT</span> </div> <div id="comment-217114" class="a_comment"> <p>ew </p> <p>springs without shocks, what good is that? </p> <p>and shocks, they slow you down a lot when you dont; need them </p> <p>ew again </p> <p>just something else to cost more, add weight and subtract speed </p> <p>no thanks </p> <p>plus when you stop the bike will dive </p> <p></p> <p>wle </p> <p></p> <span class="name">wle</span><br> <span class="date"> 18th April, 2013 @ 01:17 pm PDT</span> </div> <div id="comment-217117" class="a_comment"> <p>The big limitation that I can see, is that if there is any deflection when the rider gets on the bike, that means that the rider is essentially pedaling uphill all the time (Because he has to compress the springs as he moves forward). </p> <p></p> <p>The other problem is that unless the springs are precisely calibrated to the riders weight this will really destroy the rolling efficiency of the bicycle. </p> <span class="name">Michaelc</span><br> <span class="date"> 18th April, 2013 @ 01:18 pm PDT</span> </div> </div> <span class="title">Post a Comment</span> <div class="dotsontop" id="comment_form_div"> <div id="comment_form" data-article="27129"> <div id="comments_login"> <form action="/web/20130525202820/http://www.gizmag.com/index.php" name="login_form" id="login_form" onsubmit="return false;"> <p class="bold">Login with your gizmag account:</p> <p id="login_status"></p> <label for="email">Email</label><input type="text" name="email" id="email" value=""/> <label for="password">Password</label><input type="password" name="password" id="password" value=""/> <input type="submit" value="Log In" class="med"/> <div id="options"> <a href="/web/20130525202820/http://www.gizmag.com/register/">Register here</a><br> <a href="/web/20130525202820/http://www.gizmag.com/new_password/">Forgotten your password?</a> </div> <input type="hidden" id="expired_comment" value=""/> </form> </div> <div id="facebook_login"> <p>Or <span class="bold">Login with Facebook:</span></p><br/> <div class="fb-login-button" data-scope="email" data-max-rows="1" data-onlogin="loginFUser(27129);" data-autologoutlink="true"></div> </div> </div> <div class="clear_both"></div> </div>  <span class="title">Related Articles</span> <div id="related_articles" class="dotsontop"> <ul> <li> <a href="/web/20130525202820/http://www.gizmag.com/revolights-wheels/26979/" title="The creators of Revolights clip-on bicycle lights are now offering wheels with the lights ..."> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130525202820im_/http://images.gizmag.com/related/revolightswheels.jpg" alt="The creators of Revolights clip-on bicycle lights are now offering wheels with the lights ..."/> </a> <a class="rel_title" href="/web/20130525202820/http://www.gizmag.com/revolights-wheels/26979/">Revolights – now available built right into the wheel</a> <p class="rel_date">8th April, 2013</p> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20130525202820/http://www.gizmag.com/tretta-awd-bicycles/25203/" title="Tretta's AWD mountain bike"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130525202820im_/http://images.gizmag.com/related/tretta.jpg" alt="Tretta's AWD mountain bike"/> </a> <a class="rel_title" href="/web/20130525202820/http://www.gizmag.com/tretta-awd-bicycles/25203/">Tretta AWD Bicycles put that lazy front wheel to work</a> <p class="rel_date">27th November, 2012</p> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20130525202820/http://www.gizmag.com/simple-one-bicycle-folds-to-become-a-shopping-cart/18186/" title="The Simple One bicycle folds up to double as a shopping cart (All photos: Long Antelope En..."> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130525202820im_/http://images.gizmag.com/related/simpleone-9.jpg" alt="The Simple One bicycle folds up to double as a shopping cart (All photos: Long Antelope En..."/> </a> <a class="rel_title" href="/web/20130525202820/http://www.gizmag.com/simple-one-bicycle-folds-to-become-a-shopping-cart/18186/">Simple One bicycle folds to become a shopping cart</a> <p class="rel_date">21st March, 2011</p> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20130525202820/http://www.gizmag.com/pronghorn-apls-mountain-bike-frame/14432/" title="The Pronghorn mountain bike frame with APLS - 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