Is this the bike of the future?

Fwd Tech  Thursday 13 August 2009

Introducing Chris Boardman's bike of the future; it's "intelligent" don't you know

After all that success in the cycling at last year’s Olympics, it’s o surprise to see whacky new designs for bikes cropping up. The latest comes from Chris Boardman, who won gold back in the 1992 Olympics, and sports a load of tech that would supposedly make it as ‘intelligent’ as a computer.

Chris Boardman’s design is only a concept at the minute, but it features puncture-proof self-inflating tyres (normally only seen in whacky films such as the Wachowski Bros. light show Speed Racer), a mini computer that will keep an eye on your calories burned (if that interests you) and a carbon-fibre frame that makes it so light it would probably blow away if you breathed on it.

Elsewhere the hi-tech cycle will have a locking device that can only be opened via fingerprint scanner, so unless a thief chops off your fingers too, he won’t be able to get at your precious ride. And if you don’t fancy pedalling then solar panels will power a motor for you to cruise along at your own leisure.

It’s certainly a different take on the bicycle, and one that’s perfectly viable according to Chris Boardman. Speaking to the Telegraph he says: “If there was a budget behind it, it could be ready in two years.” Unfortunately, he also says that if it went on sale today it would cost £500,000. Oh well.