Riding your bike year round is an admirable goal but not always possible in certain climates. Swedish bike fanatic Mikael Kjellman decided to put his design engineering skills to good use by creating a bike he could ride all winter. The PodRide is a four-wheeled bike with full fabric body that will keep you dry and warm in all types of weather. No more excuses.
The PodRide is basically an electric recumbent bike turned into a practical every day vehicle. It has approximately the same seating position and seat height as a small car, allowing easy access and good visibility in traffic.
The bicycle-car features four wheels that are narrow enough to fit on bicycle paths but still be stable in the curves so you don’t tip over. It has a full waterproof body to keep you warm and dry in any weather, a heated windshield complete with windshield wiper, soft seat with back support, air suspension, and studded tires for winter riding.
A small trunk will hold all your shopping or briefcase on the way to work and there is a tow bar at the back to connect a bike trailer when you want to bring your kids. The motor and control system are from a standard e-bike setup and should make it a street legal bike in most countries which can also be operated on bicycle paths and without a driver’s license.
The plan is for Kjellman to develop a full PodRide kit based on his original prototype and intended for home builders and small pro-builders. In order to design and start production of this kit, he is seeking funding over on Indiegogo. The more money he raises, the more IKEA-like the kits will become making it easier for most people to put together. I would love a PodRide for commuting running errands in the rain.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lKq1fGtXFM&w=640&h=390]
