Now Ride-Less

Now here’s something which I find really peculiar because it seems like technology is moving backwards for the bicycle. It seems like a cross between a skateboard, a bicycle, and plain simple ol’ running.

This is the FLIZ. I believe this stone-age concept bike got its name from the Flintstones who would use their feet to drive their vehicles. So instead of pedaling, the rider has to run to move the bike forward, and ‘only resting his feet on special posts near the backwheel when enough momentum has been reached.’

Designed by German designers, a rider must strap his or her body into a harness, which hangs from the bicycle frame.

According to the FLIZ designers, they said that the laminated, carbon-fiber frame and ‘five-point belt system’ actually makes the FLIZ more comfortable and ergonomically sound to ride as compared to traditional bicycles.

“These aspects reduce pressure on the crotch and distributes the body weight while running”, they explain.

Source: DesignTAXI

Enough Said

More About Me

I’ve been contemplating about writing this post for a while now because when I started indibikes, I wanted to remain anonymous. I received comments from friends that mentioned I should have a ‘About’ page as it helps my readers connect to me better; and so I did create one and true enough it did increase my viewership. The other reason why I wanted to remain anonymous was because I felt that it was too pompous or whatever to talk about myself!

BUT WAIT! Before I talk a little more about myself, I would like to apologize to all my dear readers and followers who still come visit even though I haven’t been updating for a while. You see I am a recent business school graduate and I have been running a small business since my university days. Upon graduation, I decided to take it to the next level and as such it has been keeping me very busy! If you have read my ‘About‘ page, I mentioned that ‘my ultimate ultimate end goal would be to create my own brand of bicycles with the brand iNDi Bikes!’. Now you must be wondering if the business I’m running now has anything to do with iNDi Bikes; and I’m afraid I will have to disappoint you because the answer is no. Nonetheless, I have been making inroads into starting a bicycle retail business – talking to suppliers and manufacturers, etc etc. I have contemplated utilizing this blog as a platform to kickstart my bicycle retail business dream and I think I very well might!

Anyway, more about myself now:.

1) As mentioned, I am a recent business school graduate from Singapore and I have a strong passion for entrepreneurship and bikes.

2) I used to cycle a lot more than I do now – competing in road cycling races and triathlons. However my athletic roots belong with long distance running and that’s what I do most of the time now. I am currently training for the Singapore Marathon that will take place at the end of the year. (Below is a picture of my very underused road bike)

3) I am currently running a small business retailing nail polish both online and offline in a physical store.

4) I love to eat fast food; but I am trying to cut down due to my athletic pursuits.

5) I started this blog because I realized I really liked looking/reading about bikes online and decided that this would be a good way for me to keep track of all the awesome stuff I see/observe online and offline

Well that’s about it for now and thanks for reading!

Only in Singapore

How to keep your bike safe from theft! Keep it on high ground away from sight.

My Idol

Enough Said

Bike X Car (v) – Milani X Maserati

Bike and car collaborations must be all the rage and I hope you’re not tired of looking/reading about it!

I mean Lamborghini has done it; Toyota has done it; Mclaren has done it; Porsche has done it; Peugeot has done it; Aston Martin has done it; Hummer has done it; Land Rover has done it; Renault has done it; Corvette has done it; Jeep has done it; Chevrolet has done it; Mercedez-Benz has done it; BMW has done it; Ferrari has done it; and now, Maserati has done it as well. The question should be which car brand has not partnered up with a bike brand?

“Milani Cycles Factory, the Italian producer of hand-built steel, aluminium and carbon fibre frames, earned the best ‘road bike’ title in February 2010. The award was bestowed by T3, the prestigious British technology magazine.”

It’s no wonder Maserati would want to partner with such a celebrated bicycle maker.

These Maserati design bicycles use the automaker’s signature deep blue color and is available in two versions, the racy Veloce and the fast commuter Turismo and come spec’d with high end components worthy of both brands. What a bunch of gorgeous looking bikes that I bet go as fast as they look!

Pricing for the models range from US$3,870 to US$7,741.

The Harley of Electric Bikes – Marrs M1

Now you don’t always see me posting about e-bikes here (mainly because I don’t like them haha) but this is one e-bike worthy of my blog!

The Marrs M1 wants to be known as the Harley of e-bikes and I believe they have every right to claim that name!

“The company was founded by Kacy Marrs, who has a background in riding a variety of both bicycles and motorcycles. His business partner, Brad Fanshaw, formerly ran a company that built one-of-a-kind hot rods.” (Pictured below is Kacy Marrs)

These bikes are built to order and specs differ from bike to bike depending on the customer’s requirements. The e-bike uses a rechargeable lithium battery that can (in one charge) carry a 79kg rider up to 32km without pedaling at all!

The top motorized speed is 32km/hr but in that photo above, it was apparently travelling at 48km/hr!

Each bike weighs approximately 64kg but the weight doesn’t really matter because riders don’t have to rely solely on their physical strength to propel these machines; and that’s the beauty of it because now “manufacturers have the freedom to explore designs that aren’t centered around keeping the weight down”.

“Frames are made from 4130 chromoly steel, while the components are a mixture of high-end motorcycle, bicycle, and custom-made parts.”

Expect to pay a minimum of USD$7,000 and upwards for these babies.