You got to slide down slow in the middle, and rock from side to side.

February 19, 2007 6:05 AM

Hailed as the first major development in bicycle design for 150 years, ladies and gentlemen, it's the Sideways Bike.
posted by flapjax at midnite (41 comments total)

Hailed by whome? Anyone besides the inventor? I mean people come up with goofball bicycles all the time.
posted by delmoi at 6:17 AM on February 19, 2007

I'm with delmoi. This isn't a development, it's a novelty. I don't even like going sideways when sitting in a subway. There's no way I'd do it on a bike.
posted by dobbs at 6:18 AM on February 19, 2007

I wonder why is this getting so much press now? Looking back through my old blog archives, his prototype was first news on the internets in June 2003....

Anyway, if you want to cycle sideways but go forwards, try this puppy.

And if you like extreme cycling, give this a crack. Or try Elephant and Castle roundabout at rush hour.
posted by MuffinMan at 6:23 AM on February 19, 2007

what a perfect device for natural selection. anyone silly enough to ride this bike in traffic is sure to wind up dead.
posted by nj_subgenius at 6:30 AM on February 19, 2007

It appears to be perfect for circling ones prey menacingly.
posted by phrontist at 6:33 AM on February 19, 2007 [5 favorites has favorites]

I suspect the thrill of riding this revolutionary new design will wear off the first time the front wheel hits an obstacle and slips to the left, causing the rider to fall over backwards.
posted by The Tensor at 6:34 AM on February 19, 2007

your favorite bicycle innovation sucks / is terrifying
posted by grobstein at 6:44 AM on February 19, 2007

phrontist.... if one were to circle one's prey on that thing, I doubt the prey would feel menaced. They'd probably get a good chuckle out of it though.
posted by Doohickie at 6:48 AM on February 19, 2007

"It's a kids' bike, from seven up to teenagers. Some adults will like it but it's for play and you need to be co-ordinated enough to ride it." After testing it on volunteers, he estimates only about six out of 10 people are able to master it.

It's like that high pitched tone that only teenagers can hear-- another chance for your 13 year old to say, "Suck on this, Mom!"
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:02 AM on February 19, 2007

Hailed by Clowns! Honk Honk!
posted by srboisvert at 7:03 AM on February 19, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

Gonna try to ride it all day long, but I'm gonna fail.
posted by chrismear at 7:07 AM on February 19, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

"Did you ever take it off any sweet jumps?"
posted by Balisong at 7:19 AM on February 19, 2007 [2 favorites has favorites]

delmoi already sad what first came to my mind when reading this, "hailed by whom?"
posted by caddis at 7:19 AM on February 19, 2007

One very positive aspect of this bike that I think we are overlooking is that you don't need to buy a lock for it.

A good bike lock can cost a lot of cash so the fact that NO ONE will want to seal this bike is a plus :)
posted by neilgorman at 7:23 AM on February 19, 2007

not only that, if people do try to steal it, they'll just fall over anyway. Horray! all hail our new sideways bike overlords.
posted by craven_morhead at 7:28 AM on February 19, 2007

When something doesn't get improved for 150 years, it's probably because it doesn't need to be improved.

Side(ways) note: The dude LOOKS like he popped out of a Dr. Suess book, so...
posted by tadellin at 7:50 AM on February 19, 2007

That is one of the most unnatural ideas of all time. I can't imagine sitting sideways while moving forward on a 2 wheeled bicycle is something that will be sweeping any nation any time soon.
posted by fire&wings at 7:58 AM on February 19, 2007

And what happens when you fall backwards?
posted by itchylick at 8:13 AM on February 19, 2007

This will be most useful for women of the 19th century, so they can still ride side-saddle.
posted by dirigibleman at 8:35 AM on February 19, 2007

One day, people will be building cities around this.
posted by elgilito at 9:21 AM on February 19, 2007

First major bicycle development eh? How about a bicycle you steer with your legs? (Don't know if it counts though, since every review I've read ended with the author crashing and hurting themselves.)
posted by Popular Ethics at 9:34 AM on February 19, 2007

My neck hurts.
posted by tkchrist at 9:35 AM on February 19, 2007

Sometimes, I like to not see where I'm going. gives life a little bit of excitement.
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 9:55 AM on February 19, 2007

Actually, suppose that should say "not to see".
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 9:55 AM on February 19, 2007

If it ain't broke, etc

This looks even more uncomfortable to use than that bike you lay down in.
posted by Target Practice at 10:03 AM on February 19, 2007

I think the "flevobike" thing that Popular Ethics linked may be what I'm talking about.
posted by Target Practice at 10:05 AM on February 19, 2007

I saw this on the news the other day + the 'bike' looks super-awkward but the inventor-dude has an AMAZING mustache
posted by rey at 10:14 AM on February 19, 2007

If I wanted to hurtle sideways down the street, I'd ride a skateboard.
posted by oneirodynia at 10:53 AM on February 19, 2007

Think he gets laid a lot?
posted by fixedgear at 11:01 AM on February 19, 2007

The first bike (the actual sideways-driven one) is dumb. I kind of want one of the little ones in clips #2 and #3 on the second linked site, though. You drive forward, with independent front/rear wheel steering. That looks damn fun, actually.
posted by ctmf at 11:53 AM on February 19, 2007

Hello, I must be going,
I cannot stay, I came to say, I must be going.
I'm glad I came, but just the same I must be going.
La La.

(Mrs. Rittenhouse/Margaret Dumont)
For my sake you must stay.
If you should go away,
You'd spoil this party I am throwing.

(Spaulding/Groucho)
I'll stay a week or two,
I'll stay the summer through,
But I am telling you,
I must be going.
posted by beelzbubba at 11:56 AM on February 19, 2007

Thrust perpendicular to the line of motion. Brilliant! (huh?)
posted by beelzbubba at 11:57 AM on February 19, 2007

Thank god - I'm so tired of riding a bike with my body facing the direction I'm actually traveling! Now to wait for someone to come up with one where you sit backwards, or maybe one with some sort of attachment that fits over your head and completely obstructs your field of vision.
posted by hypocritical ross at 12:57 PM on February 19, 2007

Yes, well my new innovative bike is ridden facing backwards! It's so innovative that only 3 people in 100 can ride it! I'm a genius!
posted by lekvar at 1:00 PM on February 19, 2007

Insert obligatory South Park image reference here.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 1:02 PM on February 19, 2007

I'm confused. I thought this was the first major development in bicycle design in 150 years.
posted by A dead Quaker at 1:20 PM on February 19, 2007

Hee hee! I thought it was absurd as well! (The "first major development in 150 years" quote was straight off the top of the BBC article, by the way). So my faith in the collective wisdom of MeFites is restored, now that there hasn't been a single comment along the lines of "Hey, I'd like to try that!" A very sensible bunch of folks here!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 3:02 PM on February 19, 2007

not only that, if people do try to steal it, they'll just fall over anyway.

Tell that to the unicycle thieves.
posted by dreamsign at 3:26 PM on February 19, 2007

Double.
posted by BeerFilter at 3:39 PM on February 19, 2007

Double.

Thank god. Now this can get deleted and we can put this whole sordid little episode behind us, and move into the bright new future where FPPs like this will be but a distant and fading memory.

Long live the sideways bike!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:55 PM on February 19, 2007

But if you don't look the way you're going, you can't see where you're going. This is a stupid idea.
posted by talitha_kumi at 5:06 AM on February 20, 2007