http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Bable bike- The safest bike in the world? en Mon, 18 May 2026 13:11:07 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=14719#post-186812 Fri, 24 Apr 2015 16:05:15 +0000 LaidBack 186812@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>It's a Sinclair project, this time from Clive's son Crispin. They've been keen to establish themselves ever since the C5. That electric assist trike set the standard by which all things with seats and pedals are judged. :-(<br /> Although commonly looked at as a failure the C5 was made in large quantities and has become a 'collectors item' (Not at LB though!).</p> <p>Now they return with a comfort bike / recumbent with roll cage. Layouts of this sort have already been around for years from HPV in Germany and Optima / M5 in NL. Arellcat has a Rans Sequoia that uses a comfort layout - as opposed to flat out recliner.<br /> <a href="http://www.hpvelotechnik.com/produkte/spirit/index_e.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.hpvelotechnik.com/produkte/spirit/index_e.html</a></p> <p>The seat looks too upright of course for my tastes and the comfort level of a seat is normally the prime reason people choose such a bike. If a seat is too upright then the seat pad has to be well padded. For comfort rear suspension is quite normal too.</p> <p>I can see the thinking an the keeping the chain inside is a neat trick - except when it comes to repairs. I've ridden a Greenmachine in NL and they are as advanced as anything made in quantity. The frame was quite noisy though.<br /> <a href="http://www.flevobike.nl/en/GreenMachine/greenmachine.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.flevobike.nl/en/GreenMachine/greenmachine.html</a></p> <p>Of course they are saying this is 'just a bike' and it has nothing to do with what I would sell. This is trying to establish something on two wheels which is not a bike or motorbike... </p> <p>For every pound spent making them expect to spend ten on marketing! Safety doesn't sell easily. What people want is the convenience of a car. </p> <p>To sell this they'll need kick stands, panniers etc etc. The Shimano Steps motor is good though and we expect to have a trike with one fitted soon.</p> <p>Their earlier one had a roof.</p> <p>Link to this latest one...<br /> <a href="http://sinclairinnovation.com/" rel="nofollow">http://sinclairinnovation.com/</a></p> <p><em>They even have an animation of the bike going over the top of a Volvo. Double safety at work! ;-)</em> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=14719#post-186805 Fri, 24 Apr 2015 15:12:15 +0000 neddie 186805@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>In tests on prototypes, the Babel Bike's cage reportedly allowed it to be pushed away when hit by heavy transport trucks</em></p> <p>Hmmm...</p> <p>Does it now...? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=14719#post-186800 Fri, 24 Apr 2015 14:23:51 +0000 chdot 186800@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"</p> <p>The safest bike in the world?</p> <p>"</p> <p>Nope</p> <p><a href="http://www.gizmag.com/babel-bike/36991/pictures" rel="nofollow">http://www.gizmag.com/babel-bike/36991/pictures</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=14719#post-186799 Fri, 24 Apr 2015 14:21:09 +0000 newtoit 186799@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Current limit is £1,000 as it is effectively a loan - therefore for your employer to allow over £1,000 on the cycle to work scheme they would have to have a consumer credit license.</p> <p>Add to that your employer would have to cough up for the initial purchase - not sure how many would sign up to the cycle to work scheme if they knew they would be expected to pay for bikes costing several grand! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=14719#post-186797 Fri, 24 Apr 2015 14:11:16 +0000 DaveC 186797@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05r6wyf" rel="nofollow">http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05r6wyf</a></p> <p>go to 24 minutes (for 6 minutes).</p> <p>It is not cheap though at £3500! excluding some tax incentives. *</p> <p>* Its eligable for the Cycle Too Work scheme - which begs the question, why is the current limit only £1000 for a traditional bike? </p>