The Skatecycle, also known as the "Freerider Skatecycle", is the world's first mass-produced
hubless, self-propelled skate. Invented and patented by Alon Karpman, the Skatecycle was manufactured by Brooklyn Workshop, Inc. based at that time in
Red Hook, Brooklyn
Red Hook is a neighborhood in northwestern Brooklyn, New York City, New York, within the area once known as South Brooklyn. It is located on a peninsula projecting into the Upper New York Bay and is bounded by the Gowanus Expressway and the ...
. Unlike most traditional skateboards, the user does not need to continuously push off the ground to gain and maintain speed. The Skatecycle marks the first time a hub-less machine has been mass-produced, and it is now part of the permanent collection at the
Henry Ford Museum
The Henry Ford (also known as the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation and Greenfield Village, and as the Edison Institute) is a history museum complex in the Detroit suburb of Dearborn, Michigan, United States. The museum collection contains ...
and the
Bicycle Museum of America.
Design
The Skatecycle contains a double-jointed twisting
axle
An axle or axletree is a central shaft for a rotating wheel or gear. On wheeled vehicles, the axle may be fixed to the wheels, rotating with them, or fixed to the vehicle, with the wheels rotating around the axle. In the former case, beari ...
connected to two standing platforms surrounded by 9" polyurethane wheels. A
hubless wheel is present on both sides of the axle. In order to engage the unit, the rider needs to twist their feet inwards and outwards. The Skatecycle measures 32" x 6.5" x 8.5″ (LWH) in dimension and weights 7 1/4 lbs.
Awards
* Core 77 Design Awards: Runner Up (Professional Notable)
* Bronze 2010 IDEA award in the transportation category (as part of this award, the Skatecycle became part of the permanent collection at the Henry Ford Museum).
Notes
{{reflist
Skateboards