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Watch out for Curtis DeForest, inventor of the HyperBike!

East Hampton inventor Curtis DeForest is hitting the charts with his cool and novel creation, the HyperBike. As we have mentioned before, the HyperBike draws inspiration from a wheelchair, particularly the one used in wheelchair rugby.

Lately we contacted him and had an email interview, where DeForest disclosed the concept of ‘bear chasing’ that is shouldering his invention. He further divulged that down the line, his HyperBike would compliment to other hybrid vehicles on the road and envisages HyperBike enthusiasts lobbying for a lane on the major thoroughfares across America.

Got interested in knowing more, well, roll down and satiate your curiosity,

curtis deforest

1. The first and most rhetoric question is how and when did you come up with an idea like HyperBike?

DeForest: The short answer to how and when I came up with the idea is I had a vision of it and made it a prop in what I hoped would be an epic Sci Fi film back in the mid-nineties. The idea grew and evolved the more I thought about it until I thought “Why not?” My ‘REAL BURN’ for creating the HB was to eliminate the seat, engage the arms and maintain a hill climbing/accelerating posture similar to the one used on a conventional bicycle. I’ve spent long hours on a bike seat sometimes covering 100 miles in a day. During those trips I found parts of my body got numb as knows anyone who has ridden on a bike trip. To operate the HyperBike you coordinate your arm and leg on one side with your core to pull up while your other side pushes down. On a conventional bike so much energy can be lost trying to stabilize the bike to increase peddle power by pulling on the handle bars and pushing ones butt against a truly short sighted and ill-conceived invention, i.e. the bike seat.

2. What material did you make use off?

DeForest: The first of THREE or WORKING PROTOTYPE (W.P.) frame is made of steel which facilitated our reshaping it a few times as we learned what worked best. To that frame we attached bicycle, motorcycle, automobile and atv parts. I will execute when I find financing for the Plans for the second of THREE or ENGINEERING PROTOTYPE (E.P.) which incorporate composite/lightweight materials and hydraulic bicycle technology, that is, it will be chainless. It will have an automatic transmission, compressed air braking systems, pneumatic wheels and no front training wheel. The E.P. will go for road testing and then to the time trials in Utah where we will learn exactly how fast the HyperBike can go. Providing all goes well there will be only minor plan modification to establish a final template and best representation of the spirit of the idea or MASS PRODUCTION PROTOTYPE.

3. I assume, one’s entire body is being used with turning of the HyperBike Wheels may I take it this way that the body leans forward during the ride, (if it’s a ride)? If not then how is the body weight being used, is it not that some pressure is exerted at the lower back?

DeForest: Although there is no video showing it, we learned the best way to operate the HB was to oppose ones’ left side against their right side, as described in the second and fifth answers also. Operating the HyperBike is like Cross country Skiing or “skate-skiing” the way, after a downhill ski run, one gets back to the chair lift. While you may intellectually understand what I have written, however, doing what I described goes directly against muscle-memory of what people do with/know about peddles because neither the bottom nor the top peddles are connected to one another. Each side is a separate system, which is truer with the W.P. than with the E.P.

4. Could you please tell our readers the concept of ‘bear chasing’ that is behind your invention?

DeForest: In the E.P., side linkages between the arm and leg peddles will facilitate the peddles moving as a unit. Yet, forward motion will be delivered evenly to both wheels through the transmission. While pushing down one also drops their weight, literally, to the bottom of the peddle cycle before pulling up and repeating. Muscles, especially the core/torso ones are challenged symmetrically the same as walking or other sports requiring an erect posture. I’ve used the phrase ‘as if there was a bear chasing you’ to refer to the kind of all-out, limb extending, active gait one might adopt to escape a charging bear and what is needed for effectively starting and maintaining wheel rotation.

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5. I’m inquisitive to know whether the HyperBike is faster than ordinary bicycle or not?

DeForest: Ideally, both braking and steering are done with hand levers on the arm peddle-grips when coasting, but, since your hands are always near them you may use them at any time. At low speeds, peddling only one side will allow zero-radius-turning or an about face of 180 degrees. I intend part of the testing to be an investigation of how, at higher speeds, body movement of c.g. factors into maneuvering the E.P. We will also test its’ behavior up and down hills and using the air compression system for restarts after interrupted hill ascents.

6. What about its resistance against wind, especially when one is going down the hill or vice-versa?

DeForest: People underestimate the properties of large spinning wheels. Hold the axle of a conventional bicycle wheel and ask someone to spin it as fast as they can and they will, readily; but not if you ask them to stop it with their bare hands. We had the largest disc brake we could find from a motorcycles’ front wheel. It was capable of stopping a motorcycle by itself if necessary. It allowed us to turn but not stop the HB due to the moment principle manifested by such a large wheels. Why has SATOP suggested a compressed air brake system? I’m not talking light speed here, but, inertia will overtake wind resistance and the challenges will be teaching safe operation techniques and protecting the operator from flying road debris.

7. Is your innovation a cause, if yes then what is its aim?

DeForest: I hope that with the HyperBike, some people will achieve better personal fitness during long commutes or short jaunts. With the HyperBike and other GREEN vehicles, depending on how often they like using it, people will lessen if not completely eliminate their personal carbon footprint. I will eliminate mine completely with a commitment to GREEN travel.

8. What according to you is the practical application of the invention? And how do you envision it?

DeForest: I envision the HyperBike as a compliment to other hybrid vehicles on the road. I imagine HyperBike enthusiasts lobbying for a lane on the major thoroughfares across America sometime soon.

9. Finally, we’d like to have your thoughts on Ecofriend.org?

DeForest: Thank you for the honor of an interview. ECOFRIEND is very cool and so is your profile, I appreciate the fresh approach and relevant issues it, and you, take on. For me it has the appeal of a Sharper Image catalogue and the intellect of a science journal.

Before concluding, I’d like to thank DeForest for sparing out time in doing an interview with us, it is greatly appreciated; also I’d like to wish him success for all his future endeavors.

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