:Stringbike
{{Short description|Bicycle drive train using ropes and pulleys}}
A string-driven bicycle or stringbike is a bicycle that uses an external chainless rope and pulley drive system instead of a traditional bicycle chain and sprockets.{{cite web |url=https://gizmodo.com/5642047/hungarian-stringbike-prototype-swaps-chain-for-wires |title=Hungarian Stringbike Prototype Swaps Chain for Wires |publisher=Gizmodo.com |date=2010-09-19 |accessdate=2010-09-24 |archive-date=2017-02-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211081655/http://gizmodo.com/5642047/hungarian-stringbike-prototype-swaps-chain-for-wires |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.eta.co.uk/2010/09/23/%E2%80%98stringbike%E2%80%99-wire-replaces-bicycle-chain |title=‘Stringbike’ wire replaces the bicycle chain |publisher=ETA |date= |accessdate=2010-09-24 |archive-date=2010-09-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100927180550/http://www.eta.co.uk/2010/09/23/%E2%80%98stringbike%E2%80%99-wire-replaces-bicycle-chain |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |last=Coldewey |first=Devin |url=http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/09/20/hungarian-stringbike-reinvents-the-wheel/ |title=Hungarian "Stringbike" Reinvents The Wheel |publisher=Crunchgear.com |date=2010-09-20 |accessdate=2010-09-24 |archive-date=2013-07-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703210440/http://techcrunch.com/2010/09/20/hungarian-stringbike-reinvents-the-wheel/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite web | url = http://www.euronews.net/2010/11/17/string-the-next-big-thing-in-bikes/ | title = String the next big thing in bikes | access-date = 2010-11-30 | archive-date = 2011-09-10 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110910033915/http://www.euronews.net/2010/11/17/string-the-next-big-thing-in-bikes/ | url-status = dead }} The mechanism was commercialized by Hungarian Stringbike Kft which presented models in 2010 with a 19-speed system with no duplicate gears and having a 350% gear range.
Design
The mechanism has a rocker arm{{cite web|access-date=2023-05-27|language=en|title=Chainless Cable Cycles|url=https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/schwinn-csepel-zrt-stringbike|work=TrendHunter.com|archive-date=2023-05-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527100321/https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/schwinn-csepel-zrt-stringbike|url-status=live}}{{cite web|access-date=2023-05-27|date=2011-05-22|language=no|title=Nett-TV: Sykkelen som aldri kjeder seg|url=https://forskning.no/nett-tv-miljoteknologi-samferdsel/nett-tv-sykkelen-som-aldri-kjeder-seg/773568|work=forskning.no|archive-date=2023-05-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527100318/https://forskning.no/nett-tv-miljoteknologi-samferdsel/nett-tv-sykkelen-som-aldri-kjeder-seg/773568|url-status=live}} on each side of the bike that replaces the round sprockets (which are usually only on the right side) on chain driven bikes. In contrast to traditional derailleur chain drives, the drive does not slip when changing gears,{{cite web |last=Boyle |first=Rebecca |url=http://www.popsci.com/gadgets/article/2010-09/new-chainless-bike-uses-pulley-system-eliminating-grease-and-increasing-cool-factor |title=Chainless Bicycle Uses Wire and Pulley System, Eliminating Grease and Increasing Cool Factor | Popular Science |publisher=Popsci.com |date=2010-09-20 |accessdate=2010-09-24 |archive-date=2013-09-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130910201351/http://www.popsci.com/gadgets/article/2010-09/new-chainless-bike-uses-pulley-system-eliminating-grease-and-increasing-cool-factor |url-status=live }} and the gearing can be changed even when the bicycle is almost stationary.{{cite web |url=http://www.physorg.com/news204349619.html |title=Introducing Stringbike: the bike with no chain (w/ Video) |publisher=Physorg.com |date= |accessdate=2010-09-24 |archive-date=2013-01-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127105426/http://phys.org/news204349619.html |url-status=live }} (similarly to a hub gear), but also "at full throttle." Two Dyneema ropes (ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene, UHMWPE) attached to pulleys attached to swinging lever and cam mechanisms have been used, one on each side of the bike.
History
In the 1990s, string-driven bicycles were developed by Mihály Lantos and others.
In the 2010s, the concept was commercialized by Hungarian Schwinn Csepel Zrt. and Stringbike Kft. Patents were filed by Stringdrive Technologies Kft for Robert Kohlheb and Mihaly Lantos in 2010 alternating drive elements for bikes (8602433 and 20110266768), and in 2011 on flexible pulley-drives for bikes (9162525).{{cite web|access-date=2023-05-27|title=Patents Assigned to STRINGDRIVE TECHNOLOGIES KFT. - Justia Patents Search|url=https://patents.justia.com/assignee/stringdrive-technologies-kft|work=patents.justia.com|archive-date=2023-05-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527100319/https://patents.justia.com/assignee/stringdrive-technologies-kft|url-status=live}}
In 2010, the world's first commercial string-driven bicycle was presented in Padova, Italy by the manufacturing company Stringbike Kft.{{cite web |author=Mark Brown |url=https://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2010-09/20/hungarian-stringbike |title=Hungarian designers debut Stringbike, a chain-free bike |publisher=Wired.co.uk |date=2010-09-20 |accessdate=2010-09-24 |archive-date=2016-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304042348/http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2010-09/20/hungarian-stringbike |url-status=dead }} The company has produced and sold stringbikes with aluminium frames and carbon frames under the brand Stringbike.
In 2012 it was announced that the Hungarian rider Ferenc Szőnyi would use the model Stringbike E line RAAM with a carbon frame in Race Across America,{{cite news|access-date=2023-05-27|date=2012-02-23|first=Peter|last=Orosz|language=en-US|newspaper=WIRED|title=The Beauty and Tragedy of Hungary's Supple Stringbike|url=https://www.wired.com/2012/02/stringbike/|archive-date=2023-05-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527100318/https://www.wired.com/2012/02/stringbike/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|access-date=2023-05-27|date=2012-05-23|language=en-US|title=The Beauty of Hungary's Stringbike Where Is The Chain?|url=https://design-engine.com/beauty-hungarys-stringbike/|work=Design Engine|archive-date=2023-05-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527100320/https://design-engine.com/beauty-hungarys-stringbike/|url-status=live}} where he placed 14th overall.{{cite web|access-date=2023-05-27|url=https://www.raceacrossamerica.org/raamx/rcrank.php?s_N_Year_ID=36|title=Race Leaderboard|work=raceacrossamerica.org|archive-date=2023-05-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527100319/https://www.raceacrossamerica.org/raamx/rcrank.php?s_N_Year_ID=36|url-status=live}}
References
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External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20220916223055/https://www.stringbike.com/ Website (archived)]
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