Different cycle designs have been thrown around for years, and there are only a couple that really stuck, mainly the bicycle. One design that has been tinkered with for years and has never been fully realized is the monowheel. Many have attempted to build a monowheel, but it has never gone mainstream.
The Monovelo
However, the geniuses at Monovelo have created a monowheel model that may just be the push the monowheel needs to be mainstream. Here is an explanation of how it works from the company itself:
“How does it work?
How does it work? The monovelo consists of an inner and an outer frame. The inner frame has three small wheels that make contact with the outer frame. The outer frame is the actual rotating wheel and has a solid rubber tire. The rider sits inside the inner frame that also contains the pedal mechanism and the seat. There are basically two versions, an LED-lighted and an unlighted one. The one without lights has a price of USD 1’790 plus shipping and handling. The second version is identical to the monovelo used in the closing ceremony of the Olympics in Beijing 2008 and has LED-lights. Three colors of the LED-lights are available: Red, white and blue. The lighted version costs USD 1’990 plus shipping and handling.
Monovelo specifications:
Net weight: 38 kg
Payload: 100 kg
Diameter: 2008 mm × width 560 mm
The monovelo is made from ABS plastic (outer wheel), steel (inner wheel) and a solid rubber tire without an inner tube.
Packing size: Length 1260 mm × width 290 mm × height 950 mm, gross weight 52 kg.”
