The Conference Bike: Dumbest Invention yet (?)

[vivalostwages]

Want something stupid? And probably expensive? (I don't know how much 9500 Euros are, but I'm sure it's a chunk of change.

I give you.....

The Conference Bike. (http://www.conferencebike.com/)

As if meetings weren't bad enough, now they have to be in motion too.

[AskNott]

My wife likes to say, "Some people will do anything to be crazy." That is certifiably strange. Oddly, it's called a Conference Bike, while the web site calls it a tricycle. The movie, though clearly shows four wheels. These loons can't count to four. :smack:

[picunurse]

I'm speechless :dubious:

[Small Clanger]

And probably expensive? (I don't know how much 9500 Euros are. . .

9500 Euros -> $11,797 - £6,500 enough for a modest car (http://www.virgincars.com/newcars2.asp?CID=8531)

I think the idea of cycling sideways, let alone backwards is just wrong, you'd get motion sick surely?

[Mycroft Holmes]

I've actually ridden one of these (In Hannover, Germany during the Maschseefest), and it was actually a lot of fun (especially the strange looks you get from people). Hannover is actually the city where this bike was first "invented" and built by a couple of students of the Technical University, and our "driver" was one of the original co-inventors. The Q&A on the link above mentions this. Even riding backwards isn't that bad. You don't go very fast, so there is no motion sickness (even after quite a few beers :D ). However, I think they should change the gear ratio a little, because you have to pedal pretty hard.

[jjimm]

They demonstrated this on Irish TV a few weeks ago. I don't think the conference aspect of it is the intention - it's just a novelty.

It's the funniest thing ever. I think if I saw one driving down the street I'd laugh so hard that I'd crash.

[TwistofFate]

The animated graphic in the bottom right hand corner is very, very scary.

[smartini]

I'm apparently going to all the wrong conferences :D

[Ponder Stibbons]

That would make an interesting Tour de France if you could get the entire team on one bike! :) Going up Mount Ventoux would sure be a bitch, though.

[Philster]

Any company that needs a paradigm shift can think outside the box by embarking on a new journey on the conference bike, while they brainstorm new ideas.

[Chairman Pow]

They charge $5/rider to go on one of these in Times Square.

[Zebra]

There are several of them working in NYC. I think the only reason for the bike is to get tourists to do something stupid and charge them $5.

[davidm]

My wife likes to say, "Some people will do anything to be crazy." That is certifiably strange. Oddly, it's called a Conference Bike, while the web site calls it a tricycle. The movie, though clearly shows four wheels. These loons can't count to four. :smack:I can't get the movie to play, but to me the still pictures clearly show three wheels. Does the movie show a different bike?

[Tiggrkitty]

It LOWERS INHIBITIONS....It's a PARTY ON WHEELS!

Okay this is scary. Who is driving that thing? Who is paying attention to traffic? Who wants to get sweaty at work during a conference meeting? I live in Texas, it get's hot here!

[Sunspace]

I thought the whole purpose of the conference was to decide what direction to go in and whether to apply the brakes before you get creamed by a Greyhound...?

[WhyNot]

Hmm. I guess I'm the only one who thinks it looks fun, huh? Guess I'll be doing my pedaling solo. :(

I'm thinking how much easier it would be to chaperone a gaggle of children on a park/zoo/city tour if we were all on the same bike. It's really like a paddle boat for land, no?

[Sunspace]

Don't get me wrong. It looks fun. I'm just wondering whethere there's a pilot or master of the vessel responsible for overall direction of the thing as well as crisis decisions...

[Mr. Blue Sky]

The animated graphic in the bottom right hand corner is very, very scary.

Very Gilliam-esque.

[Sunspace]

Hmm. Okay. It looks like one position, above the single wheel, has a steering wheel. :)

[Chairman Pow]

Don't get me wrong. It looks fun. I'm just wondering whethere there's a pilot or master of the vessel responsible for overall direction of the thing as well as crisis decisions...

You have to fight over the steering wheel.

[Sublight]

It seems appropriate that on a bike for meetings, no one can actually see where they're going.

[scr4]

I'm thinking how much easier it would be to chaperone a gaggle of children on a park/zoo/city tour if we were all on the same bike. It's really like a paddle boat for land, no?
Except the seats all face each other, so I don't think the view would be all that great. I guess it'd work for team-building excercises.

I like this one better:

http://www.hasebikes.com/ens/worldrecord/

It's 65 trikes coupled together to form a 92-meter long road train. The coupler is a standard accessory they sell - buy two trikes and a coupler, and you can also use them as a tandem trike.

[AskNott]

I can't get the movie to play, but to me the still pictures clearly show three wheels. Does the movie show a different bike?

I think it's the same, uh, bike? trike? quack? What looks like one wheel under the helmsman is really two parallel wheels about 8 inches apart. When the thing rides toward the camera you can see both rear wheels.