Tensegrity and You.
Tensegrity is a portemanteau of “tensional integrity,” a Buckminster Fuller-era engineering concept whereas compression and wires in tension are arranged and loaded in such a fashion as to achieve a static configuration. Example: Kenneth Snelson’s popular Washington D.C. Needle Tower:
Designer Ionut Predescu has created a bicycle frame that uses the same principles employed by Snelson. The carbon fiber “top tube” and the seat tube float independently of each other, held in place by cables under tension
The designer claims the result is a lighter and more compliant ride, but in my (admittedly old-ish) mind it recalls this:
The UCI said “no way” to Slingshot and I tend to agree. A bottom bracket that sways more than your drunk uncle and looking more ridiculous than that guy with creepy selective-shaving habits and a electric assist-recumbent ? I’ll pass. Give me down tubes or give me death!
Industrial designers are constantly trying to create “concept” bicycles. It seems like they’re taking a cue from concept cars. The difference between cars and bicycles is the part of the car you see (the exterior) has very little to do with how the car works.
Bicycles are obviously different. You can’t start subtracting tubes (and brakes) and expect the thing actually operate satisfactorily.
Designing a bicycle is foremost designing a machine. It’s not a car. You can see the chassis; you can see the drive train and the brakes.
And you can’t mess with all that stuff if you don’t know what the implications are.
Here’s another CAD example of a “concept” bike:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VMBXGqBOWsE/SCR9qk1AVII/AAAAAAAAAgg/sJXTvdYJfaQ/s1600-h/sr-srcreenshot.jpg
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don’t forget the puma bike