http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Smart wheel en Sun, 17 May 2026 14:38:43 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11607#post-132299 Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:59:09 +0000 algo 132299@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>so it does! (sorry wasn't aware of that) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11607#post-132298 Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:52:57 +0000 Kim 132298@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>This looks every like the <a href="http://senseable.mit.edu/copenhagenwheel/">Copenhagen Wheel</a> developed at MIT in 2009... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11607#post-132296 Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:41:38 +0000 algo 132296@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@steveo - thanks for that. I understand now. Brain a bit feeble. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11607#post-132292 Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:31:10 +0000 steveo 132292@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>up to is usually the get out of jail free card if it was a 200w then you'd probably get upto 2.5h hours.</p> <p>True, though the light would draw so little power compared to the motor that a slightly clever charge controler could cut the motor when the battery got to, say, 10% and leave days of charge left to the run the lights or iPhone. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11607#post-132286 Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:14:26 +0000 algo 132286@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@steveo - thanks for explaining that - not sure I understand the last bit though...</p> <p>"probably more like a 250w motor given its up to 2 hours"</p> <p>Agree about the dynamo - seems pretty ill-conceived, but I think if it works as I guess it does then the charging part only works on deceleration of the crank with respect to the motor, so pedalling itself doesn't charge it, so once it's dead you'd have nothing to power the front light (unless you're going downhill). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11607#post-132284 Tue, 12 Nov 2013 11:55:51 +0000 algo 132284@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>there's an app and a robust housing - what more detail do you need? I didn't see the price - I just remembered I like using my legs. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11607#post-132283 Tue, 12 Nov 2013 11:55:41 +0000 steveo 132283@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/flykly/flykly-smart-wheel" rel="nofollow">http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/flykly/flykly-smart-wheel</a></p> <p>It apparently weighs 4kg which whilst pretty heavy isn't that bad. LI-ON gives ~250wh per kg, say 1.5 kg for the motor and wheel leaves 2.5kg for battery which is 600 wh. Take away something for efficiency loses and you'll get a useable 400wh which gives about 200w for two hours, probably more like a 250w motor given its up to 2 hours.</p> <p>More iritatingly it uses a dynamo to run the front light and (required) iPhone charger so wasting energy to propel the bike then wasting more in the dynamo all so they can avoid running a wire from the charger to the battery... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11607#post-132280 Tue, 12 Nov 2013 11:44:49 +0000 kaputnik 132280@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Their website is rather pants. It wants your money (Kickstarter) with precious little detail about how it works and how it performs. I'll keep my wallet shut I think. I've got better things to spend $550 US on! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11607#post-132278 Tue, 12 Nov 2013 11:39:32 +0000 steveo 132278@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Shonky browser more than anything. Do they mention how heavy it is any where? I am curious now. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11607#post-132276 Tue, 12 Nov 2013 11:28:29 +0000 algo 132276@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>sorry about posting a link which crashed browsers - it is irritatingly full of flashy things and adverts. I can't find out any power info - here's a youtube video of the thing...</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_X4rZhOEHT0">smart wheel video</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11607#post-132274 Tue, 12 Nov 2013 11:15:37 +0000 steveo 132274@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The article crashes my browser but does it mention how powerful it is? It may be a fairly weak motor but even 100w would be a help, your average commuter probably never generates more than that on the flat. 100w would only need a fairly modest battery, especially if its regenerative, 30 miles is only 2 hours use at a modest pace. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11607#post-132273 Tue, 12 Nov 2013 11:11:39 +0000 algo 132273@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I think it's crucial that it's pedal assist - i.e. it does nothing unless you are pedalling yourself. That might be stating the obvious, but it took me a while to work out how it would work.... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11607#post-132270 Tue, 12 Nov 2013 11:03:34 +0000 cb 132270@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"As far as 30 miles on one charge".</p> <p>They're either lying or that's one unbelievably heavy wheel. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11607#post-132265 Tue, 12 Nov 2013 10:45:51 +0000 kaputnik 132265@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Seems to be a similar concept to "dynamic" or "regenerative" braking in trains, where resistance generated in the traction motors is used as a form of braking, either being dispelled as heat from a bank of resistors (which is why the roofs of Virgin Voyager trains had a habit of catching fire when fed with Autumn leaf fall) or fed back into the overhead lines. Only in this case I assume it's being stored in a battery </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11607#post-132257 Tue, 12 Nov 2013 10:14:33 +0000 algo 132257@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>can't quite work out how this works, but looks quite clever....</p> <p><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/09/smart-wheel-flykly_n_4247102.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/09/smart-wheel-flykly_n_4247102.html</a> </p>