When Rodger Parker saw riders struggling with greasy chains to fix a flat, he thought there has to be a better way. When he saw riders walking out of the hills with broken chains and clothing destroyed by chains, again he thought, there has to be a better way. When his wife ended up with a knee problem likely caused from years of extensive riding, he knew there had to be a better way. Rodger found it hard to believe that in the 150-year history of the bicycle, no one solved these problems. So, he thought…let’s fix it!
Ideas began with drawings on napkins which then progressed to wood and plastic mock-ups. When Rodger thought a design might work, he hired a machinist to fabricate his designs out of aircraft grade aluminum. Along the way, there were ideas that just didn’t work, but many that did. Getting something to work mechanically is doable but pairing a mechanical device to fit the human anatomy is not that easy. All the movements that take place within the sagittal plane involving anterior or posterior movements of the body or limbs must be addressed. In simple terms, a bicycle needs to feel good!
Designing a carbon-fiber frame, weight is always a consideration, but the greater concern is catastrophic failure. Composite frames manufactured in the past literally split apart under stress. To eliminate that problem, NuBike has an internal carbon-fiber “I-Beam” molded inside the shape as a secondary structure yet the frame still weighs less than 3 pounds.
A new computer optimized frame will weigh even less and it will accommodate most popular off-the-shelf components; wheels, saddles, handlebars, etc. With the project on track, Rodger applied for a Patent. But then…another challenge. There was so much power and torque going to the rear wheel, axles were literally twisting into pretzels. At the time, he used the strongest metal and hardening processes known to man but the axles kept failing. Discouraged, to say the least, he shelved the project and cancelled his Patent application.
About a year later, Rodger’s engineer discovered an exotic new metal being used in military applications. It takes special equipment to shape and harden but it works perfectly.
Persistence paid off and NuBike met the challenge! By eliminating the chain, it’s capable of going faster with less effort using the mechanical advantages of leverage and gravity. Longer pedal cranks deliver more power to the rear wheel. Gravity and near vertical pedaling, combined with the rider’s weight, produces continuous force throughout the entire pedal stroke… not just for part of it. There’s less stress to the hips, knees and ankles and it’s easy to store securely. Simply put, NuBike is more efficient and the concept will practically work on all bikes: Beach Cruisers, Mountain Bikes, Kids Bikes and even Rickshaws!
