As devices such as the Pulse Kick ‘n’ Go Xcelerator and T-Board show, designers are always looking for new and interesting (and hopefully profitable) ways to provide kids with the various cuts and scrapes that are an essential part of growing up. The latest pretender to the throne still occupied by bikes, skateboards and scooters is the Freerider Skatecycle – a two wheeled recreational vehicle that allegedly combines the “foot control of snowboarding, the balanced turning of skateboarding, and the nimble, undulating movements of casterboarding.”
Receiving a bronze in the 2010 International Design Excellence Awards, the Skatecycle’s frame is made of solid aluminum with body parts made of a durable composite. It features two slip-resistant footboards sitting inside the two 9-inch, polyurethane, hubless wheels that are connected by a double-jointed, twisting axle. This axle enables the rider to twist their body, moving their feet inwards and outwards, to propel the device.
Although, judging by the video below showing some trendy young things riding the device, it might take a bit of getting used to and could take some effort to achieve some decent speeds. But the device’s designers say the more experienced you get, the less energy you have to exert to gain and maintain momentum on flat ground.
Made by Brooklyn Workshop, the Freerider Skatecycle measures 32 x 6.5 x 8.5-inches (LxWxH), weighs 7.25 lbs and is available now for US$149.
