Dutch bike manufacturer Gazelle have released details of their collaboration with visionary design firm Giuguaro Koninkijke, that has resulted in "the bike of the future."
The bike, called the No1, is some way away from becoming a consumer reality. It's a concept bike at the moment, as repeated several times on the Gazelle No1 website, though the creatioin of that website and the plausable design details contained within those pages leaves a feeling that the bike could be closer to reality than the Dutch company are letting on.
Almost every compnonet of the No1 been detailed over on Gazelle's fabulously flashy website, and we're going to break it down for you here.
The bike is driven by a Gates Carbon CenterTrack belt and is powered by a high-power 36V electric motor. The carbon framed - and wheeled, handlebarred, front forked, side panneled and seat posted - machine has a top speed of 45km/h - which is reachable in just 12 seconds - and 80Nm of accessible torque.
Gear changes are handled by a NuVinci hub which is integrated into the rear carbon wheel. The hub is able to change gear automatically so that no matter how fast you're travelling your cadence will remain the same.
Depending on your top speed, which can be limited to 25km/h for the vehicle to be registered as an e-bike in Europe, the Carbon model - as opposed to the aluminium Indigo model - can travel up to 200km on one charge.
Gazelle say the bike's 612Wh battery has around 1,000 full charging cycles in its lifespan, while the day-to-day monitering of th battery's charge can be done via smartphone.
That's right, as is to be expected in a concept bike, the No1 has been designed with technology in mind. This isn't a bicycle with an electric motor attached to it, Gazelle describe it as an aesthetic whole. From the cockpit to the motor, the bike is smart.
Some serious smartphone integration replaces the need for a handlebar interface, though distracted cyclists won't be a worry because safety was at the top of the order in the design process, according to Gazelle CEO Huub Lamers.
He said: "The smartphone's touchscreen wom't work if the cyclist is going faster than 5 kilometres per hour. There is a reason for this: Gazelle wants to prevent unsafe cycling behaviour at all times."
They call the set-up the COBI-system, which includes the COBI app, the COBI hub - which is the cradle in which you'll place your phone while you're on your bike - and the handy little thumb controller to the right of the left grip.
The app will offer route planning, navigation, weather forcasts, a tracking system, music plaing options, ride-data, a fitness tool, and the option to turn on and off the front and rear lights.
If you want to learn more about the No1, head on over to the website, if you want to see more, check out this video of the bike in action:
